Board declares June 19 as Juneteenth Day in the county
The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners declares June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth Day in Ramsey County.
On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate states, yet many remained in bondage until June 19, 1865—when the last enslaved people in Texas were finally freed, marking the day we now recognize as Juneteenth.
Juneteenth celebrates the resilience, hope and enduring struggle for freedom of African Americans and serves as a powerful reminder of the legacy of slavery and the continuing pursuit of racial justice.
In 1866, Black communities organized the first Juneteenth celebrations—featuring music, cultural food and prayer—and today, Juneteenth is recognized nationwide thanks to generations of advocacy, including the work of Opal Lee widely known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth.