Dallas College campuses and offices will be closed June 19 in observance of Juneteenth, a federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and informed enslaved African Americans that they were free. The announcement came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.

The holiday, also known as Freedom Day and Emancipation Day, originated in Texas and has since grown into a nationwide observance. Communities across the country celebrate Juneteenth with festivals, educational programs, parades, musical performances and community gatherings that honor African American history and culture.

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021 after legislation was signed into law by President Joe Biden. The effort to achieve federal recognition was championed by Opal Lee, a former educator and activist from Fort Worth who spent decades advocating for the holiday.

Today, Juneteenth serves as both a celebration of freedom and a reminder of the nation’s history of slavery. The holiday also highlights the continued pursuit of equality and civil rights in the United States.