The Emancipation Proclamation had formally freed them almost two and a half years earlier, and the American Civil War had primarily ended with the defeat of the Confederate States in April 1865. However, Texas was the most remote of the southern states, with a low presence of Union troops, so enforcement of the proclamation had been slow and inconsistent. For decades, June 19 was celebrated in the African American community as a day of freedom and independence. While some states marked the day as a holiday, it was only in 2021 that it became a federal holiday.

On Sunday, June 16, Berkeley Lab’s Government and Community Relations Office is partnering with the African American Employee Resource Group (AAERG) to participate in the 37^th Annual Berkeley Juneteenth Festival. Berkeley’s Juneteenth Festival is the longest-running Juneteenth event in Northern California, and the Lab’s participation is a valuable way to share with the local community more about who we are and what we do. Click here to volunteer for the Lab booth at the Juneteenth Festival.

To learn more about the African American Employee Resource Group, click here.

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