On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared that all enslaved people in rebellious states were to be set free. This is known as the Emancipation Proclamation. Despite the proclamation, for two years slavery was still rampant in the state of Texas.
In the spring of 1865, General Gordon Granger and Federal troops arrived at Galveston, Texas, and he announced that all slaves were free. The following year, freed men in Texas organized and celebrated "Jubilee Day" on June 19 to celebrate their freedom.
Today, it is a national holiday, and the tradition of celebrating Juneteenth has spread all across the United States. If you have experienced discrimination because of your race, nationality or protected status, feel free to contact us by clicking here.