Juneteenth: What’s Open, What’s Closed In Clark?

CLARK, NJ — Because the June 19 Juneteenth holiday falls on a Sunday this year, banks, federal offices and the post office in Clark will be closed Monday in commemoration of the date in 1865 when word reached the last enslaved people in Texas that the Civil War had ended and they were free.

Many state and local government offices will be closed as well.

Clark's Town Hall is closed Friday, June 17 in observance of the holiday. Town Hall will be open on Monday and the Township Committee will have its regular meeting.

Clark Public Library will be closed Friday, as well.

Juneteenth events are happening in Summit and Westfield for those who are interested.

Last year, President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth an official holiday, becoming the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday was approved in 1983. Juneteenth is oldest-known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States.

• Related: What Is Juneteenth? Celebrating The End Of Slavery

Patch employees have the day off Monday. Some other businesses around town may also be closed; so if you’re planning to stop by one of them, it’s a good idea to call ahead to make sure the business is open.

Some big brands are giving their employees a day off or paying them extra.

Companies that are already looking seriously at diversity, equity and inclusion efforts may see adding Juneteenth as a paid holiday as “something tangible” that “recognizes the importance of that day,” Julie Stich, a vice president of content at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, told NPR.

Nike said in an email statement to NPR that Juneteenth is a paid holiday for corporate, retail, manufacturing and distribution employees across the Nike, Converse and Jordan brands. Zillow is doing the same as part of its “ongoing commitment to racial equality,” the company said in a statement.

Both Zillow and Nike are encouraging employees to reflect on the importance of the day while taking part in volunteering, activism and educational opportunities.

Among them, Target and Starbucks are open, but employees get time-and-a-half pay on Juneteenth, according to a list put together by Entrepreneur.

Tech companies Twitter and Square are giving employees the day off. Google and Amazon aren’t, but they’re encouraging employees to cancel meetings. Amazon is also offering “online learning opportunities” throughout the day.