Alabama to observe Juneteenth as state holiday this year

This year, Kay Ivey, the governor of Alabama, has declared Juneteenth Day a holiday for Alabama’s state workers. Juneteenth Day is a federal holiday that commemorates the emancipation of slavery of black Americans in Galveston, Texas, in 1865, two months after the surrender of the Confederacy. It was 2 1/2 years after the Southern states’ Emancipation Proclamation of freeing enslaved people.

Earlier this month, Ivey released a memo authorizing this day as a state holiday and that the offices will be closed on June 20th since June 19th is a Sunday this year. In 2012, Alabama was the 40th state to celebrate Juneteenth because State Sen. Hank Sanders sponsored legislation that was later passed.

Last year, President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Since it is a federal holiday, Ivey has authorized it as a holiday for state employees. However, the governor’s spokesperson, Gina Miaola, said that Alabama Legislature is yet to decide if it will become a permanent state holiday. Congress first recognized June 19th as Juneteenth Independence Day in 1997.


Alabama law recognizes the other holidays as permanent state holidays except for Juneteenth Day. It has three state Confederate-related holidays, closing offices across the state for the day. Alabama also celebrates Confederate Memorial Day in April and observes Confederate President Jefferson Davis’ birthday in June along with Robert E. Lee Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January.

Various unsuccessful attempts have been made to abolish or change the name of Confederate-related holidays.