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(June 19, 2020 7:39 AM) In recognition of the Juneteenth Celebration Day, Jackson College will give all employees and students a day off Friday, June 19.

Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 that Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger of the Union Army landed in Galveston, Texas, and informed slaves there that the Civil War had ended and slavery was abolished. 

“In recognition and commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States and in a sincere desire to encourage discussion and dialogue about our history, as well as to provide a time for reflection, understanding and appreciation of our differences, and as a recommitment to working together as one community of humankind, Jackson College declares Friday, June 19, an employee and student holiday,” said President Dan Phelan.

Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies today signed a proclamation declaring June 19, 2020 as Juneteenth Celebration Day, and called on the city administration to make Juneteenth an official city holiday in the City of Jackson. The move would likely make Jackson the first city in the State of Michigan to declare Juneteenth an official, paid city holiday. 

“Our city is going to celebrate Juneteenth, but also continue to put in the work to ensure we are confronting the racial challenges we face head on,” said Mayor Derek Dobies. “Making Juneteenth a city holiday shows the importance we place on the meaning of this day to so many in our community, and our desire to engage our community in conversations on racial equity.”

“We celebrate Juneteenth every year, but this year – given our conversations around racism and Black lives – it matters even more,” said City Councilman Freddie Dancy. “The story of Juneteenth is twofold: we celebrate the emancipation of our people, but in it we are reminded of the fact that – for so many – justice continues to be delayed.”

Jackson College typically hosts an annual Juneteenth musical celebration in cooperation with many community partners, but that was canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.     

Community events include the painting of the “Black Lives Matter” mural on Washington Avenue, the mayor’s Juneteenth observance at 5:30 p.m. Friday in Blackman Park and the southside Juneteenth celebration on Sunday at Elnora Moorman Park. 

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