Dear fellow state employee,
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Today is Juneteenth, the day we commemorate and recognize as Freedom Day for slaves in Galveston, Texas who were told they were free by Union soldiers on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that became effective in January 1863. This is a day of reflection, acknowledgement, celebration and action.

From their website: "Our purpose is to honor and remember a special milestone in black history: June 19, 1865. On this day, African Americans forced into slavery in the United States were officially and legally free (ish)." More info after the jump.

Governor Jay Inslee declares June 19, 2020 "Juneteenth" in a ceremonial declaration!
Read the original 6/5/2020 announcement from BUILD below.