President Hotard Proclaims Friday, June 19 as Juneteenth Independence Day and Council declares Parish Holiday
Published 8:52 am Thursday, June 18, 2020
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St. John the Baptist Parish – During Wednesday’s special Council Meeting, Parish President Hotard proclaimed Friday, June 19, 2020 as “Juneteenth Independence Day.” The Council also unanimously declared Juneteenth an official holiday.Juneteenth, also known as “Freedom Day” commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned that the Civil War had ended, and the Emancipation Proclamation had freed them nearly two years earlier.
“We wanted to formally recognize Juneteenth and purposefully honor its place of historic significance,” said Parish President Hotard. “In St. John, we are committed to ensuring our Parish promotes the inclusion of all history and encourages the celebration of Juneteenth by the community.”
In recognition of this important day, Parish offices will be closed this Friday, June 19, 2020. A March for Justice and Freedom will take place at 8:00 a.m. Friday morning beginning at the Home Depot in LaPlace and ending at the Percy Hebert Building. The march is open to the public.
Council Chairman Lennix Madere added: “We are asking all of our residents and Parish leaders to come together and commemorate this special day.”
