Juneteenth 2025: Date, History And Why It's Celebrated Every Year In US
History and significance of Juneteenth
It was on June 19, 1985, when African Americans enslaved in Galveston, Texas, were told that they had been set free. With the announcement, which was made by General Gordon Granger, the Emancipation Proclamation came into effect. The Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln almost two and a half years later on January 1, 1863.
Long a regional holiday in the South, Juneteenth rose in prominence across the country following 2020 protests over the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and other African Americans. It was officially recognised as a federal holiday in 2021.
The day honours those who suffered as a result of slavery in the 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived in the colonies, which later became the United States.
Juneteenth celebrations
Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas and other southern states as early as 1866. On this day, people offer prayers and invite family gatherings and then include annual pilgrimages to Galveston by formerly enslaved people and their families, as per Juneteenth.com.
The celebration takes place among families in the backyards as well, where food is an integral element. Some cities like Atlanta and Washington hold larger events which include parades and festivals with residents, local businesses and more.
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First Post
01-07-2025
- First Post
Quad launches first-ever coast guard 'at-sea observer mission' to boost maritime cooperation in Indo-Pacific
For the first time, the Coast Guards of Quad nations, comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, have launched a 'Quad at-sea Ship Observer Mission' to enhance maritime security and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region. The mission involves deployment of coast guard observers on a US Coast Guard ship operating in the Indo-Pacific. read more Coast Guard personnel of Quad nations, comprising India, the United States, Australia, and Japan, operate jointly as part of the first-ever 'Quad at-sea Ship Observer Mission'. (Photo: Indian Coast Guard) The Quad, comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, has launched the first 'Quad at-sea Ship Observer Mission' to enhance maritime security and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region. The mission involves two officers, including women, from the coast guards of each nation. The Quad is an informal grouping committed to a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. The group, which is involved in security cooperation, humanitarian and disaster relief work, and developmental activities, is also a way of member states to counter China's hegemonic designs in the region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Quad at-sea Ship Observer Mission was conceptualised at the Quad Summit 2024 in Wilmington in the United States. Under the Wilmington Declaration, the Coast Guards of India, Japan, the United States, and Australia have launched the 'QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission', which involves the deployment of two officers, including women officers, from each country on board US Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Stratton, which is currently sailing to Guam, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. 'The cross-embarkation mission marks an unprecedented step in Quad Coast Guard collaboration, enhancing joint readiness, operational coordination, and domain awareness in support of a Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific,' the statement further said. While Quad is not a military alliance, the member states have increased military cooperation under Quad framework in recent years. Former US President Joe Biden, who hosted the Quad Summit 2024 at his home in Wilmington, joined hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make Quad one of the leading instruments of managing the Indo-Pacific region and countering the Chinese aggressive posturing in the region. In 2023, India, Australia, Japan, and the United States held military drills off the Australian coast. The drills were widely dubbed as 'Quad Drills'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The MoD said that India's participation in the Quad at-Sea Ship Observer Mission reinforces its strategic maritime vision of Sagar (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and complements national efforts under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), with an emphasis on capacity-building, humanitarian outreach, and maritime rule of law. Moreover, the Quad at-sea initiative thus sets the foundation for a 'QUAD Coast Guard Handshake', fostering stronger trust, coordination, and collective resilience amid evolving maritime challenges in the region, the statement further said.
Hindustan Times
22-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Kroger responds to backlash over ‘lazy' Juneteenth cakes: ‘The products have been…'
A woman in Atlanta, Georgia, posted a video on TikTok this week from inside her local Kroger. She showed cakes from the bakery section that were meant to celebrate Juneteenth, the holiday marking the end of slavery in the US. A woman in TikTok posted video that shows Kroger has made 'ugly' cakes with messy icing and odd messages.(REUTERS) 'This is some bulls***,' she said in the video. 'Who the hell made this ugly a** s***. I wish there was a manager around here because y'all decorate everything else around here cute.' She pointed out cookie cakes with messy icing and odd messages like 'Free @ Last' and 'June 19 Free.' One cake just had plain white frosting on the edges and said only: 'Free.' 'For Juneteenth you want to just throw something on a freaking cookie cake and expect someone to buy it?' she added. 'That's bulls***.' She also said she planned to come back to the store the next day to speak to an employee about the cakes. 'Kroger, count your days. Why even bother if you're going to lack creativity,' she wrote in the video's caption. 'This is a mockery!' Also Read: Kroger employees affected by closure of 60 stores to be offered jobs at nearby stores Kroger apologizes for 'lazy' Juneteenth cakes Kroger responded to the video in a statement saying: 'The cakes and cookies that were featured in the video were inconsistent with our provided guidance and not of the quality we would expect to see from our stores. The products have been removed, and we've addressed this directly with the store teams and the customer who took the initial video,' as reported by the Independent report. Netizens slam Kroger for sloppy cakes The TikTok video, posted by @ has over 10.4 million views, and the comments are filled with people criticizing Kroger. ''Free @ last' is diabolical,' one person wrote. Another said, 'They were better off just not acknowledging Juneteenth.' 'This is funny but NOT funny,' someone else said. 'I'm highly disappointed in Kroger.' Another comment read: 'If you didn't bring up Juneteenth, I would've thought it was a welcome home from jail cake.' A lot of people also compared it to Walmart's Juneteenth ice cream from 2022. That product was taken off the shelves after people said it was trying to profit off a Black holiday without real support for Black communities or workers. Kroger said, "Juneteenth holiday marks a commemoration and celebration of freedom and independence. However, we received feedback that a few items caused concern for some of our customers, and we sincerely apologize. We are reviewing our assortment and will remove items as appropriate.' (By Varnika Srivastava)
News18
20-06-2025
- News18
What Is Juneteenth And Why Is Donald Trump Not Celebrating It This Year?
Last Updated: Juneteenth is a day that marks the end of slavery in the United States. While the United States observes Juneteenth 2025 on June 19, President Donald Trump has maintained an indifferent silence on the federal holiday this year. Trump, who honoured the day every year in his previous term as President, in fact said the US has 'too many working holidays, costing the country billions of dollars" even as he didn't mention Juneteenth in his post directly. Juneteenth is a day that marks the end of slavery in the United States. The day is observed with parades, educational events, community gatherings, and moments of remembrance across the US. What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is observed on June 19 every year. The day marks the end of slavery in the United States. The name is a combination of 'June" and 'nineteenth." On this day in 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people were free, in line with President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued over two years earlier, on January 1, 1863. Texas was one of the last Confederate states where slavery remained in practice, as Union forces had not yet taken control. When Granger issued General Order No. 3, it finally brought the message of freedom to more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas. This moment came to symbolise the final end of slavery, even though it would take the 13th Amendment, passed later that year, to abolish slavery nationwide. Over time, Juneteenth grew from local celebrations in Texas to a nationwide event. It is observed with cultural events, music, food, and historical reflections. In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday, underscoring its importance as a day of freedom, remembrance, and a continued call for equality and justice. How Did Juneteenth Become A Federal Holiday? Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, but the journey to the day's national recognition was long and hard-fought. For decades, African American communities across the US celebrated Juneteenth locally, especially in Texas where it was first officially recognised as a state holiday in 1980. However, efforts to make it a national holiday gained momentum following the racial justice protests of 2020 after the killing of George Floyd. Activists, lawmakers, and community leaders renewed calls for federal recognition, highlighting the importance of honouring the end of slavery as a key moment in American history. One prominent voice in the movement was Opal Lee, a lifelong activist from Texas, who, walked from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C. at 89, to campaign for Juneteenth's recognition. Her dedication and the growing national awareness around systemic racism helped push Congress to act. In June 2021, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act passed swiftly with overwhelming bipartisan support, and President Joe Biden signed it into law on June 17, 2021. The move marked a historic step in acknowledging the legacy of slavery and the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America. Why Is Trump Not Celebrating Juneteenth This Year? This year, Trump did not issue any public statement or proclamation marking Juneteenth, a shift from his first term, when he routinely acknowledged the holiday. He, in fact, criticised 'too many non-working holidays" on his social media website Truth Social. 'Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed,"" Trump wrote. 'The workers don't want it either! Soon we'll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," the US President added. Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. The workers don't want it either! Soon we'll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE…— Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) June 19, 2025 In January 2025, Trump had also signed an executive order dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across federal agencies. This was interpreted as a move to scale back observance planning for cultural and remembrance days like Juneteenth. First Published: News explainers What Is Juneteenth And Why Is Donald Trump Not Celebrating It This Year?
