HOUSE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING "JUNETEENTH NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY" ON JUNE 19, 2026

This House Resolution formally recognizes June 19 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day in Rhode Island for the year 2026. The bill commemorates the date in 1865 when news of the abolition of slavery finally reached enslaved people in Texas, marking the end of more than two centuries of bondage. It urges citizens to observe the day to honor the historical significance of emancipation and to learn about the experiences of African Americans. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to the Governor, serving as an official state acknowledgment rather than a new law.