(News Nation) – For more than a century and a half, Juneteenth has held significant meaning in many black communities, symbolizing freedom and resilience.
Although it’s recognized as a federal holiday, only a few states have made it a paid state holiday.
A 2024 report from the Congressional Research Service indicates that at least 30 states and the District of Columbia officially recognize it as a holiday, either through legislation or other means. These states include:
- Alabama
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
On the flip side, some states haven’t adopted Juneteenth officially. These include Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Interestingly, New Mexico’s state personnel board did approve the addition of Juneteenth to the list of paid holidays for 2022, but it has not become a statutory holiday. Similarly, West Virginia does not recognize it as a holiday in June, as confirmed by Governor Patrick Morrissey.
While some states commemorate the day symbolically or through events, others choose to recognize the end of slavery differently. For instance, Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis declared holidays in 2020 but hasn’t since. The state acknowledges the date slavery ended there, but it’s celebrated as Liberation Day in May rather than a paid holiday.
Additionally, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas observe multiple Confederate holidays throughout the year, as noted in an Axios analysis.
Mississippi and Alabama each have three holidays in honor of Confederate leaders recognized as paid holidays for state workers.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned they were free—two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. It was established as a federal holiday in 2021 and has since gained broader recognition beyond the black community. Many people now take the day off for work or school, celebrating with street fairs, concerts, and various events.
Over time, Juneteenth has also been referred to as Freedom Day, Liberation Day, and even “the second Independence Day.”
