June 17, 2024 - Emanuel 9 Day of Observance and June 19, 2024 Juneteenth

The Emanuel 9 Day of Observance honors the memory of the nine African American parishioners who were murdered during a Bible study session at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17, 2015. The tragic event, carried out by a white supremacist, highlighted issues of racism and violence in the United States. The day serves as a time for reflection, remembrance, and a commitment to combating racial hatred and promoting peace and unity. It also pays tribute to the resilience and strength of the victims' families and the broader community impacted by this act of violence. 

 

On June 19, 1865, freedom finally came for the 250,000 enslaved people of Texas.  That day, which would become known as Juneteenth, the Army arrived to enforce what had already been the law of the land for two and a half years — the Emancipation Proclamation.  Today, we recognize that Juneteenth not only marks the end of America’s original sin of slavery but also the beginning of the work at the heart and soul of our Nation:  making the promise of America real for every American.