As many of you know, last year Gov. Murphy signed legislation designating the third Friday in June as a State and public holiday, known as Juneteenth Day. Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States.
This year CarePlus NJ, along with the 1199J Union Agency delegates agreed to celebrate Juneteenth and add it as an official Holiday to our schedule. Therefore, June 19, will be added as a paid holiday moving forward. This year June 19th lands on a Saturday, therefore, we will celebrate the day on Friday June 18th. CarePlus NJ is proud to celebrate this day and finds that Gov. Murphy and Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, said it best:
Gov. Murphy stated: “It gives me great pride to celebrate emancipation and New Jersey’s great diversity by designating Juneteenth as an official State holiday. Commemorating this date is just one component of our collective approach to end a generational cycle of pain and injustice that has gone on for far too long. Every Juneteenth, we will celebrate the end of the physical chains which once held Black Americans down. While more work lies ahead to undo the oppression that remains, Juneteenth is an important marker that reminds us of our mission to create a society that enables our Black communities to achieve the full equality which they deserve.”
Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver stated: “Juneteenth is a reminder that centuries later, not all of us are treated equally and that freedom and democracy are not a given. Our fight for civil rights and freedom from discrimination and oppression continues today. Now, Juneteenth will forever be observed and celebrated so that we can collectively reflect upon the indelible mark that slavery has left on our country as we fight for meaningful reforms.”
CarePlus NJ concurs with both statements. We look to do our part in not only remembering the meaning of Juneteenth, but to also renew our commitment to fight against racial injustice and healthcare disparities of any kind. We hope all of our employees do the same!
CarePlus NJ, INC. is dedicated to excellence in mental healthcare and has a commitment to life-long support needed by individuals and their families to ensure that they achieve their full potential and improve the quality of their lives.
