Mike Demicco

Today is Juneteenth, and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the significance of this day and what it means for our country. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is a time for us to celebrate the progress we have made toward racial equality while also recognizing that there is still much work to be done. 

During the 2022 legislative session, several of my colleagues spoke passionately on the House floor about why Connecticut needed to make Juneteenth a legal state holiday. The bill received bipartisan support and was signed into law by Governor Lamont, and this is the first year it will be officially observed as a state holiday.

Contrary to popular belief, slavery did not immediately end after the conclusion of the Civil War. Some communities were not informed of the Union's victory until months after. On June 19, 1865, two months after the Civil War ended, a group of Union soldiers traveled to Galveston, Texas and announced that all enslaved individuals were now free. They were among the last group of Americans to be notified of their freedom. To learn more about the history of Juneteenth, click on the graphic above.
 
Although Juneteenth is a celebration, we must also reflect on the horrors of slavery and how it impacts us to this day. As your state representative, I will continue to push for legislation that promotes equity and inclusivity.