LOS ANGELES PROUDLY CELEBRATES JUNETEENTH

June 19, 1865, or “Juneteenth”, marks the end of slavery in the United States (read more about its history here). Since then, while celebrated widely within the African American community, Juneteenth has taken time to be properly recognized among all American’s. In 2021, Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday. Today, while there is still significant room for growth, we see the holiday honored widely, especially here in the County of Los Angeles. Regarding the importance of Juneteenth, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated, "Today is a moment to reflect and to understand the profound journey of Black people in America and explore ways that we can make equity a reality."  (1) 

Juneteenth is a day that calls for reflection, celebrates strength, and honors enduring perseverance. Thank you to those community leaders and constituents who take the time to honor, celebrate, and spread the word about this incredibly important holiday. 

A note on the flyer above: This event, which took place on June 14th is the kick-off event for a continued 8-weeks of on-site services. Check out the QR code for more info.

In addition to celebrations on and around the Juneteenth holiday, Los Angeles County has also taken time to prioritize Black equity in a variety of other ways. In July 2020, “the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (Board) unanimously adopted a motion to establish an Anti-Racism County Policy Agenda recognizing, affirming, and declaring that “racism is a matter of public health in the County of Los Angeles (County) and that racism against Black people has reached crisis proportions that result in large disparities in family stability, health and mental wellness, education, employment, economic development, public safety, criminal justice, and housing.” (2) This steppingstone in addressing racial disparities rooted in U.S history aims to present a new reality to residents of LA County. Cities within LA County, such as Culver City and Long Beach, have also adopted plans to address racial equity, in the hopes that their work inspires other cities to adopt similar policies. Additionally, in 2021, Los Angeles City Council established an Office of Race & Equity within the Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department to advance race and equity in the City of Los Angeles through policy and programs. (3)

"Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, culture, and progress." (4) Thank you to the community leaders and constituents who take the time to honor, celebrate, and spread the word about this incredibly important holiday.