LANSING, Mich., June 7, 2023 — The House Government Operations Committee met today, and state Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit) gave testimony on her bill, House Bill 4457, which would establish Juneteenth, or June 19, as a state-recognized holiday. The bill will bring Juneteenth on par with other state and federal holidays as a bank and judicial holiday in Michigan. After giving her testimony, Scott issued the following statement:
“Designating Juneteenth as an official state-recognized holiday in Michigan honors those who were wrongly enslaved in our county and promotes the commemoration of when all slaves heard the news that they were emancipated from slavery. Additionally, this designation supports ongoing efforts to expand racial justice and equity in Michigan. During a time when books are being banned and curriculums are being censored and histories are being hushed, it is crucial we speak truth to society. This bill helps do so, by recognizing a past that cannot be forgotten or brushed under the rug of white supremacy. The institution of slavery is an absolutely horrific stain on our country’s history, and the freeing of slaves is one of the most important events of our past — let that be recognized.”