Juneteenth Independence Day, also known as Freedom Day, which commemorates the abolition of slavery in the U.S., is being celebrated tomorrow in Haverstraw. The holiday has been observed in the past with a parade and festival, but due to COVID-19 tomorrow’s 5th annual event will feature a socially-distant African-American flag raising and ceremony at Haverstraw Village Hall. Virginia Norfleet is the founder of the Haverstraw African-American Connection, and says Juneteenth marks the day when slaves in Texas, the last to be freed, first heard that the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Lincoln and took effect January first, 1863…
Tomorrow’s ceremony is at 6pm at Haverstraw Village Hall. A parade and celebration will be held at a later date. The governor yesterday signed an executive order recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday for state employees. He’s also going to propose legislation that would make it an official state holiday next year.