Will County Executive Issues Juneteenth Proclamation

Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant signed a proclamation today officially recognizing June 19 as Juneteenth Day of Observance in Will County.

“Will County is proudly joining communities across the country in celebrating Juneteenth and reflecting on the history of emancipation,” said Bertino-Tarrant. “For over 150 years, this holiday has served as an opportunity to honor the legacies of those who fought for freedom from slavery.”

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union Army General Gordon Granger’s proclamation ordered the freedom of more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas. Juneteenth has grown to become the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States of America.

In the Executive Proclamation, County Executive Bertino-Tarrant described Juneteenth as an “opportunity for everyone in Will County to celebrate the emancipation of Black Americans and to condemn the history of slavery in the United States of America.”

Juneteenth is a recognized county holiday for Will County government. All county buildings will be closed on the holiday, with the exception of essential county services and public safety operations.