Juneteenth Now Official Holiday For Milwaukee County Employees

MILWAUKEE, WI — Juneteenth Day is now an official holiday for all Milwaukee County employees after Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and County Board Chair Marcelia Nicholson issued an executive order Monday morning.

"Juneteenth is a day to celebrate the rich history and culture of the African American community. It is also a day to appreciate the long struggle for civil rights that Black people in America have faced for centuries," Crowley and Nicholson wrote in a statement. "I am hopeful that our employees will be able to take June 19 as a day 'on' not a day off in order to fully support Black lives, liberation and the vision of Milwaukee County to achieve racial equity and become the healthiest county in Wisconsin."

According to the executive order, Milwaukee County employees will receive a floating holiday on June 19. A resolution is expected be taken up by the Milwaukee County Board later this summer to make Juneteenth Day a permanent holiday for Milwaukee County employees.

Juneteenth Day, observed every year in the U.S. on June 19, is a 155-year-old holiday that celebrates the emancipation of African Americans from slavery.