Juneteenth marches, rallies planned across Seattle
Friday is Juneteenth, the day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, and rallies and marches are planned throughout Seattle to celebrate and highlight anti-racist efforts happening in the city.
Also known as Emancipation or Freedom Day, the date was chosen to remember June 19, 1865 when Union soldiers marching through Galveston, Texas announced that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. The day is not a nationally recognized holiday, but Washington is one of 46 states that observe the day.
On Wednesday, Seattle City Council signed a proclamation that officially recognized Juneteenth in the city. The day is meant to honor both the historic importance of the date and recognize current efforts to end systemic racism in the city.
The proclamation was dedicated to the Black employees of Seattle's City Council, who led the effort to have the day recognized.
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