Despite state’s withdrawal due to what Morrisey calls ‘fiscal challenges,’ most planned Juneteenth celebrations will go on in WV
By Matthew Young, RealWV
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gov. Patrick Morrisey, on Wednesday, issued a proclamation honoring Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the day some 250,000 enslaved people were emancipated in Galveston, Texas.
In an accompanying statement to his proclamation, Morrisey added that, “Juneteenth is an important day in our nation’s history and serves as a reminder that all of us should be treated equally under the eyes of God and the law.”
Last Wednesday – less than a week before the issuance of the proclamation – a Morrisey spokesperson announced that the governor would break with tradition by requiring all state employees to report to work as scheduled on Juneteenth. Additionally, all state-sponsored Juneteenth activities beyond Morrisey’s proclamation, had been cancelled by the governor. The spokesperson cited “continued fiscal challenges” as the reason behind the cancellation.
“The message of freedom finally reached African Americans in Texas on June 19, 1865, when Union General General Gordon Granger, backed by nearly 2,000 troops, arrived in the City of Galveston and made the announcement,” Morrisey’s proclamation states. “The Great State of West Virginia recognizes Juneteenth as the oldest date commemorating the end of slavery.”
As history will now reflect, just days before the 160th anniversary of General Granger’s message reaching the enslaved people of Texas, Morrisey’s own conflicting message reached the residents of West Virginia.
In response to Morrisey’s decision regarding state employees, county, city and municipal officials throughout the Mountain State were quick to announce that their workers would have the holiday off with pay, as required by federal law. No such requirement exists for state governors, as they are free to determine which federal holidays will be observed by the Executive Branch.
Despite the lack of official participation on the part of the Morrisey Administration, Juneteenth will be observed and celebrated in West Virginia. Banks, Post Offices, and every government office below the state level will be closed for the holiday. Numerous community celebrations – sponsored and supported by local municipalities – will still be held in Charleston, Wheeling, Huntington, and many other areas. However, some have been postponed by one day, as is the case in Charleston.
Charleston’s Juneteenth Parade will now take place at 11:30 a.m. Friday, with the Festival at Slack Plaza following at noon. The event will feature live music, food and craft vendors, informational booths, and interactive activities. Certain previously scheduled Thursday events – such as the Capitol Market’s Juneteenth Farm to Table dinner, and the “Fireside Chat” with journalist Roland Miller at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center – will take place as originally planned.
