Juneteenth is for Everyone​

The United States of America is a country with the highest of ideals. The Declaration of Independence states that “[w]e hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Protecting and promoting these rights is our highest calling as a nation. A devastating part of our American experience is slavery.  When slavery was legal in this country, the “self-evident” truths of our nation were rejected by some and the inherent God-given rights of others were denied. 

The Civil War brought an end to slavery in this country on May 9, 1865. However, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865 that Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas. “He informed the enslaved African Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended. This momentous occasion has been celebrated as Juneteenth — a combination of June and 19 — for over 150 years.” (from The National Museum of African American History website.)

​Learn all about our special celebration here:

OFFICIAL PITTSFORD JUNETEENTH WEBSITE