Multiple Cities Cancel Juneteenth Celebrations: What to Know

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published May 01, 2025 at 11:05 AM EDT


Several cities across the U.S. have canceled Juneteenth celebrations this year, citing a range of concerns from logistical challenges to safety and the evolving political climate.

Why It Matters

Juneteenth, observed on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in the United States were informed of their freedom — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation passed by Congress designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday. The move followed a nationwide reckoning on racial justice sparked by the murder of George Floyd by police in the summer of 2020.

Juneteenth organizers have provided different reasons for cancelling events this year. Though President Donald Trump's administration is not directly connected to the cancelations, some organizers said they were cancelling events due to the political climate since Trump's return to office.

Trump signed an executive order in January directing federal agencies to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. That prompted a New Jersey brach of the NAACP to move its Juneteenth celebration off federal property over fears it could violate the order and prompt retaliation.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/cities-cancel-juneteenth-celebrations-2066715

---

As a note, "Juneteenth" is not some random "E.O. holiday". It's an actual FEDERAL holiday.

S.475 - Juneteenth National Independence Day Act

[117th Congress Public Law 17]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 135 STAT. 287]]

Public Law 117-17
117th Congress

An Act



To amend title 5, United States Code, to designate Juneteenth National
Independence Day as a legal public holiday.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Juneteenth National Independence Day
Act''.

SEC. 2. JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY AS A LEGAL PUBLIC
HOLIDAY.

Section 6103(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by
inserting after the item relating to Memorial Day the following:
``Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19.''.

Approved June 17, 2021.

(snip)