Commemorating the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas on June 19, 1865, Juneteenth is celebrated annually by afrodescendant communities around the world.
The two year delay between the legal abolition of slavery in the United States, and its official enforcement in Galveston, Texas serves as a mirror to the century of segregation and Jim Crow that followed, subsequent decades of discriminatory policy, and the continued existence of violent anti-Black structures that permeate our legal and economic systems.
The Commission recognizes June 19, 2019 as a day that celebrates Black freedom and resilience, and re-commits to eradicating antiblackness, advocating for policies that begin to repair generations of continued harm to descendants of enslaved Black and Indigenous communities especially, and enforcing civil rights protections in Providence and beyond.
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The City of Providence is committed to being an inclusive, sustainable municipality, where all individuals’ rights are fully realized. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the City’s work, please reach out to Providence Human Relations Commission Director & Interim ADA Coordinator Sol Taubin at 401-680-5740 or