STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Louisiana Becomes Latest State To Make Juneteenth A Holiday

Governor John Bel Edwards just signed a bill making it official.

Juneteenth is officially a state holiday in Louisiana.

On Thursday (June 10), Gov. John Bel Edwards signed House Bill 554 into law, making June 19th a holiday.

On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned the Civil War had ended, and that the Emancipation Proclamation had freed them almost two year prior.

RELATED: Oregon Votes To Make Juneteenth A Holiday

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated memorialization of slavery ending in the United States.

According to US News & World Report, the Louisiana House voted for the measure 87-0, which was introduced by Baton Rouge Democratic Rep. Larry Selders. The state’s senate also unanimously voted for the bill 37-0.

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.