Newsom marked Juneteenth by declaring it a day of observance and encouraging Californians to celebrate progress while acknowledging ongoing inequities
Governor Gavin Newsom marked Juneteenth by issuing a proclamation declaring the date as “Juneteenth National Freedom Day: A Day of Observance.”
Newsom made the announcement Friday morning with a copy of his executive order, which reads: “This Juneteenth, I urge all Californians to reflect on the ongoing cause of freedom for Black Americans – remembering that, though General Granger’s announcement in 1865 called for ‘absolute equality,’ that vision was, and remains, far from complete. Let us celebrate how far we have come and take stock of how far we must go to truly realize our nation’s founding ideals.”
Juneteenth celebrations are happening across Los Angeles, honoring Black freedom, culture, and community, with concerts, a barbecue in West Hollywood Park, and other events across the city.