Juneteenth, the latest addition to the roster of federal holidays in the United States, has left in its wake a trail of violence, controversy, and community disruption. Instead of creating unity, as its proponents suggested it would, the evidence indicates that its national recognition has only served to further ignite division and perpetuate a cycle of violence in communities across the nation.
This weekend, the country was once again awash with reports of shootings and violence linked to Juneteenth celebrations. It seems this so-called holiday has left numerous communities reeling from incidents in Asheville, North Carolina, Akron, Ohio, San Diego, California, and Chicago, Illinois. This troubling pattern has been a constant companion to Juneteenth since its inception as a federal holiday in 2021.
One cannot help but question whether the nationalization of this holiday has inadvertently stoked the fires of division. Asheville's Juneteenth celebrations, orchestrated by the local Martin Luther King Association, were cut short due to a shooting involving minors. Instead of fostering unity and celebration, the event concluded in tragedy and dismay.
In Ohio, a local Juneteenth gathering turned hostile when a young teenager was shot. This appalling act of violence took place in the midst of an event meant to honor the end of slavery. Tragically, in San Diego, another life was lost and more people were injured during their Juneteenth celebration, with the assailant still at large.
Perhaps most distressing is the large-scale shooting at a Juneteenth event in Chicago that left one person dead and twenty-two wounded. The unidentified suspects remain at large. Rather than being a celebration of freedom and unity, the holiday has been marred by acts of violence and disregard for life.
Moreover, both the police and the media have yet to release the racial identities of the suspects, instead labeling the incidents as "gun crime." This lack of transparency has only contributed to the cycle of misunderstanding and division. However, the day was declared a national holiday by Joe Biden in response to the demands of violent Black Lives Matter activists—so it’s no wonder these events reflect the mentality of those who pushed for it.
The historical day of Juneteenth, often referred to as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, marks an important historical milestone in the United States. The holiday commemorates June 19th, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, signaling an end to slavery in the southern states. However, the history surrounding this day is more intricate and complicated than it might initially seem.