Columbia

Columbia mayor declares Juneteenth Celebration Day

Published June 19, 2020 10:39 AM

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Mayor Brian Treece proclaimed Friday to be Juneteenth Celebration Day in the city.

The City of Columbia announced the proclamation in a series of tweets that displayed the text of the proclamation.

Happy Juneteenth to those in our community celebrating with family and friends!

For the first time, Columbia Mayor Brian Treece signed a proclamation declaring June 19 as Juneteenth Celebration Day. The proclamation reads as follows:

1/5 pic.twitter.com/4AUgZZKsNT
— City of Columbia, MO (@CoMoGov) June 19, 2020

Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. Its roots are in the landing on June 19, 1865, of Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas with news that slavery had ended.

The holiday has enjoyed an increased profile this year amid protests and national discussions about policing and the black community.

Several events were scheduled in Columbia on Friday to mark the holiday. Celebrations are planned at Karis Church and Douglass Park. University of Missouri Health Care workers have also organized a 6 p.m. solidarity walk from the campus to the Boone County Courthouse.

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Matthew Sanders