GSB Commemorates Juneteenth – Freedom Day

Gill St. Bernard's School will commemorate Juneteenth on Friday, June 19th and all GSB offices will be closed. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally recognized commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. It celebrates the June 1865 arrival of Union troops in Galveston, Texas bringing the Civil War to a close. All remaining enslaved Texans were freed and given personal and property rights equal to their former owners. Texas declared Juneteenth as an official state holiday in 1980, followed by several other states. As of today, 48 states recognize this holiday.This year as our country confronts its history of racism and oppression, it is especially important for us to recognize Juneteenth and reflect on how we – collectively and individually – will act to confront the barriers to equality and inclusion within our community and the nation. At Gill, we are committed to together building a community that represents and responds to all the people we serve. On Juneteenth, we ask for everyone to remember, learn, and engage in dialogue about ending systemic racism and establish social justice, equity, and inclusion for all.Suggested Resources:

• https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-is-juneteenth/
• https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ref/abouttx/juneteenth.html
• Teaching Tolerance: https://www.tolerance.org and https://www.tolerance.org/the-moment/june-17-2020-celebrating-juneteenth
• 'Why Celebrating Juneteenth is More Important Now Than Ever': Essay by P.R. Lockhart published in Vox
• 'Celebrating Juneteenth': Essay/Video from the National Museum of African American History & Culture, discusses celebrating Juneteenth