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After years of not acknowledging the holiday, the city of Sacramento will begin observing Juneteenth — the day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States — as a paid holiday for city workers starting Friday, June 19.
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The change came after a 2024 proposal from Sacramento City Councilmember Caity Maple, who represents the historically Black neighborhood of Oak Park, and Councilmember Rick Jennings, whose offices announced the change Monday.
“I look forward to celebrating Juneteenth as we honor the lives and efforts of those who paid the ultimate price to end slavery, discrimination and injustice so that we could work side-by-side to expand opportunities and civil rights for everyone,” Jennings wrote in the announcement.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday under President Joe Biden, became a day of observance in California under Gov. Gavin Newsom and has been recognized in other California cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose. Sacramento County government also observes Juneteenth.
The effort to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for city employees has been a key initiative African American Employee Leadership Council since 2022, according to the proposal Maple and Jennings submitted. The council advocates for the fair and equitable treatment of African American employees and residents of Sacramento.
The proposal said that, because Juneteenth is already a federal holiday and is recognized by the county, it is “fitting and timely” for the city to do the same.
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“We are proud to see Sacramento join the federal and state government in observing Juneteenth. This is a day to celebrate resilience, and a reminder of the work still ahead,” the leadership council wrote in the release.
A former chief of staff for Maple’s office told The Sacramento Bee in March 2025 that any proposal would be dependent on labor negotiations with city unions. The proposal said that the primary financial impact would be the cost of providing a paid day off for city employees.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the leadership of the AAELC and the dedication of our city staff and labor partners, who worked together to bring this across the finish line,” Maple wrote in the announcement.
Juneteenth is celebrated every year on June 19, marking June 19, 1865, when Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery in Texas. It came two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 12:10 PM.