City Offices to Close in Honor of Juneteenth

City of Charleston offices will be closed Friday, June 18, in observance of Juneteenth, which is Saturday, June 19. Police, fire and refuse will report as scheduled.

“It is important to observe the Juneteenth holiday and pass along its meaning and history to future generations,” said Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. “This is a monumental day, and we encourage all to celebrate Juneteenth at one of the celebrations taking place in and around Charleston.”

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union Major General Gordon Granger announced the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas, in accordance with President Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Emancipation Proclamation.

President Joe Biden is expected to sign a bill today establishing June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day. Governor Jim Justice also issued a proclamation declaring Juneteenth as a state holiday in West Virginia.