Juneteenth, 2004

"Juneteenth marks the day [June 19] Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston in 1865 to share news of the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves two years earlier on Jan. 1, 1863." It became an official holiday in Texas in 1979 ... and it seems some black legislators are still angry about that.

A New York Times roundup.

Wichita celebrates * Gainesville crowd defies rain * USCT rides again in Philly * Wisconsin party kicks off in governor's mansion * Juneteenth film festival staged in Dallas * Omaha gangfights shut down Juneteenth celebrations * Celebration tries to save historic Missouri school * Pataki, legislature make Juneteenth a New York holiday * Baton Rouge stages its first Juneteenth * Lawrence underlines biracial theme in march, tours * Oregon library hosts acted-out slave narratives

Check the Juneteenth events page for week-long celebration info.