Press Releases Share Print #22-017 City of Carson Declares Juneteenth an Official Holiday City of Carson First Known City to Commemorate Juneteenth in CaliforniaOn June 7, 2022, Carson City Council unanimously approved a resolution declaring Juneteenth as an annual city holiday. The City of Carson is known to be one of the first municipalities in the state to honor the end of the African American Slavery in the United States with a Juneteenth celebration 22 years ago.Juneteenth marks the date in history when African American slaves in Texas first received word that all slaves were free. On June 19, 1865, the news came to Texas two-and-a-half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.“It is important to recognize Juneteenth to provide the community an opportunity to become aware and learn more about the significance of the occasion in U.S. history,” said Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes.President Joe Biden signed a bill in 2021 making Juneteenth a federal holiday. The approved Carson resolution makes it a paid holiday for all city employees. Carson City Council voted unanimously in 2021 to start the process of making Juneteenth a city holiday.“As we honor Juneteenth, we recommit to educating ourselves on this horrendous chapter in our nation’s history. We ensure that we can learn from the mistakes of our past for the sake of future generations,” added Mayor Davis-Holmes.