The Journey to Juneteenth

The Journey to Juneteenth timeline outlines some of the pivotal events that occurred that led up to President Joe Biden signing the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021, making Juneteenth a federal holiday which was passed by Congress with a bipartisan vote of 415 to 14.

Freedom did not come overnight. The journey to freedom began when captive Africans arrived on the Virginia shores in 1619. On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger read General Order # 3, informing enslaved people in Texas that they were free. As we celebrate Juneteenth, take a moment to honor the memory of those who endured the brutality of slavery and those who advocated, fought, and sacrificed their lives for freedom. May we always remember their strength, resilience, and countless contributions to the United States of America as we prepare to celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary.