A message on the meaning of Juneteenth

06/15/2023

Dear campus community,

Monday, June 19 is Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates and recognizes the emancipation of enslaved Americans. The date is significant because the U.S. Army reached Galveston, Texas on that day in 1865 to announce and enforce the freedom of the slaves following the end of the Civil War.

I ask that you use this holiday as an opportunity to reflect on the history of slavery in our country and how we must always be mindful of preserving and expanding justice, freedoms and liberty for one another.

I would also like to invite those of you who are in the area to the Cortland County Community of Color’s Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 17. The event will take place in Courthouse Park in downtown Cortland from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition to speeches from local leaders, the celebration will feature food, music and giveaways.

My thanks go out to the members of the SUNY Cortland community who have worked to organize this event and help us remember the meaning of Juneteenth.

All the best,

Erik J. Bitterbaum

President