This Thursday, June 19, millions of Americans will observe Juneteenth, marking 160 years since enslaved people in Texas learned they were free. The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas with 2,000 troops and announced freedom for over 250,000 enslaved Black people – two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. “I don’t think anyone should be intimidated or obligated into not celebrating the day,” said Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League. “I think it would be absolutely reprehensible.” Juneteenth falls during a period of political … Continue reading Juneteenth 2025: 160 Years Since Freedom Reached 250,000 Enslaved Americans Amid Political Tensions