Dear NYLS Community,
Today, our nation celebrates Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating a historically significant event related to the end of chattel slavery in the United States.
On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas bringing news of the end of the Civil War and putting into effect the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, but kept concealed from enslaved people living in Texas. Read more on the history from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Many African American communities and families in Texas and other states have celebrated Juneteenth for over 150 years. NYLS, New York State, and New York City began to observe this holiday four years ago, and it became a federal holiday three years ago.
I hope you use this day for learning more about this history, celebrating, resting, reflecting, giving back, and/or advocating for a more equitable and just society, depending on your circumstances and what feels right to you.
Thank you for your commitment to our institution, to racial equity and justice, and the promise of our democracy.
-Dean Crowell