Johns Hopkins will observe the anniversary of Juneteenth as an official paid university holiday this year and in future years, the university announced today.
Juneteenth commemorates the day—June 19, 1865—when the enslaved people of Texas finally received news of their freedom, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln. Long celebrated in many different ways, Juneteenth recognizes the spirit of liberation, resilience, joy, and creativity of Black Americans in the face of slavery's enduring legacy and centuries of racial discrimination.
Because June 19 falls on a Saturday this year, the university will be closed for classes and other business on Friday, June 18, in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. The news was shared Monday in a message from JHU President Ronald J. Daniels, Provost Sunil Kumar, and Interim Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration Mary Miller.
Due to the demands of patient care, the Johns Hopkins Health System will remain open and commemorate Juneteenth with events and opportunities for reflection and celebration. University employees involved with patient care on that day will receive further communication from Johns Hopkins Medicine about the day and continuity of care.
Posted in University News
