Juneteenth

Cook County Offices will be closed on Monday, June 20, 2022, in observance of Juneteenth.

Todd Ford, Public Information Coordinator On June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas finally received word that they were free from bondage. It had taken Union forces until that day to reach Texas in sufficient numbers to announce and enforce the federal order that ended slavery.

Since that time, many Americans have observed and celebrated Juneteenth as Emancipation Day, a day of freedom. As stated, when signed into federal law as our eleventh and newest federal holiday back in 2021, Black Americans came to commemorate the day with celebrations across the country, building new lives and new traditions … and Juneteenth is a day that should be recognized by all Americans.

When Juneteenth was made an official federal holiday, it took on a posture such as Labor Day, Memorial Day, or the Fourth of July. Like other federal holidays, banks, schools, and government organizations such as post offices are expected to be closed. This year, Cook County begins to recognize this federal holiday, so our offices and buildings will be closed, in recognition of Juneteenth.

It is a day to educate yourself and reflect. While slavery ended in 1865, racism persists within some individuals and institutions. Use June 19 as a day to reflect on critical issues that perpetuate discrimination here and around the world.