BALTIMORE, MD (Thursday, June 17, 2021) — In observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day, Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced that city offices will be closed on Friday, June 18, 2021.

“With this action, Baltimore City can finally come together to celebrate and acknowledge Juneteenth for its significance in American history,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “I encourage residents to use this moment to reflect on the unfathomable  journey of Black people in America and explore ways that you can make true emancipation a reality for all marginalized communities. I would also like to acknowledge and celebrate the men and women designated as essential employees who will report for duty and continue to provide essential city services on this day of observance."   

Juneteenth annually commemorates the date June 19, 1865 when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, taking place over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.