Juneteenth

Juneteenth is Independence Day, Freedom Day, and Emancipation Day, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.  

President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which was declared on January 1, 1863, decreed that all enslaved individuals in Confederate states rebelling against the Union "shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” 

Celebrations for Juneteenth began among newly liberated individuals in Texas in 1865, evolving into annual "Jubilee Day" celebrations with music, barbecues, and prayer services.  

In 2021, Congress passed a resolution to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday, which President Joseph Biden signed into law on June 17, 2021. 

The Juneteenth holiday honors the effective end of slavery in the United States. It serves as a reminder of the impact of slavery on individuals and communities.  

KCAO will be closed on June 19, Honoring the commorancy of Juneteenth. We will resume our regular operations on June 20.