Juneteenth Is Now A Paid Holiday For Cook County Employees

Cook County has officially designated Juneteenth a paid day off for government employees.

The Cook County Board opted to recognize the holiday in a vote on Thursday (December 17), according to the Chicago Tribune. That means that Cook County is the largest one in the United States to include Juneteenth as a paid holiday for its employees.

That also means Cook County is Illinois’ first county to recognize Juneteenth — June 19 — as an official holiday. Gov. J.B Pritzker has indicated his interest in recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday statewide.

Although the Emancipation Proclamation freed people from slavery in the Southern states in 1863, it often wasn’t enforced until after the Civil War ended. In June 1865, Union soldiers delivered the message in Galveston, Texas, that African Americans were free and the war was over, according to the Associated Press.

The day marks not only the end of slavery in America, but is also considered the “longest-running African American holiday,” according to History.

"This year, Cook County and the nation have experienced unprecedented racial and civil unrest," Commissioner Stanley Moore said Thursday. "The call to recognize Juneteenth in light of these unfortunate events is stronger than ever."

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