Latest news with #EmancipationDay
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
U.S. Virgin Islands Announces St. John Celebration 2025: Honoring History and Culture
ST. JOHN, U.S. Virgin Islands, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, in partnership with the Division of Festivals, is proud to announce the 2025 St. John Celebration, will be taking place from June 28 through July 4, 2025 under the vibrant theme: "History and Culture Come Alive for St. John Celebration." This beloved annual festival promises a week of heritage, music, food, and community spirit on the island of St. John. Rooted in tradition and cultural pride, St. John Celebration culminates in a fusion of festivities that honor both Emancipation Day and Independence Day. "This year's theme is a powerful reminder of who we are as a people," said Joseph Boschulte, U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism. "As we celebrate our heritage, St. John Celebration gives us the opportunity to share our stories, showcase our culture, and warmly welcome visitors to be part of our unique Caribbean experience." Adding to the excitement, the festival's signature events will spotlight local musicians, artisans, dancers, and chefs, offering a cultural experience for residents and visitors alike. "Our goal this year is to deepen the connection between community and culture," said Ian Turnbull, Director of Festivals and Events. "From traditional moko jumbies and calypso to modern performances and local cuisine, we're inviting everyone to celebrate what makes St. John and the Virgin Islands so special." St. John Celebration 2025 is open to the public and welcomes attendees from around the world to experience the spirit and culture of the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information and a full schedule of events, please visit High-resolution photos from last year's St. John Celebration are available here. About the U.S. Virgin Islands About 40 miles east of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands comprise a United States territory located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. The three islands are St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas, where the capital of Charlotte Amalie is located. Perfect for leisure or business travel, the U.S. Virgin Islands features breathtaking, world-renowned beaches, an international marine industry, European architecture, and a burgeoning restaurant industry. No passports are required from U.S. citizens traveling from the U.S. mainland or Puerto Rico. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are equivalent to entering the United States from any international country. Upon departure, a passport is required for non-U.S. citizens. For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to follow us on Instagram (@visitusvi) and Twitter (@usvitourism), and become a fan on Facebook ( View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
USA Today
23-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
Juneteenth is a federal holiday – but it's new to me. Is it important to you? Tell us.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday – but it's new to me. Is it important to you? Tell us. | Opinion I was nearly 40 years old when I first heard of Juneteenth – and I didn't know the significance of the date at all. What does Juneteenth mean to you? Share your thoughts below. Show Caption Hide Caption Juneteenth 2024: How to celebrate Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. Here's how to prep for and celebrate the important holiday. Problem Solved I was nearly 40 years old when I first heard of Juneteenth. I was living and working in Cincinnati at the time. I didn't know the significance of the date at all, I figured it was just another summer festival or a day in June to hop in the pool or go to a cookout. Juneteenth was not covered in my history classes, nor publicly celebrated in any of the numerous towns where I previously lived. Here's what I know now. On June 19, 1865, 160 years ago, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned that slavery had been abolished in Confederate states with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation – more than two years after it was signed. Although the date is widely recognized now as "Juneteenth," also known as Emancipation Day or Black Independence Day, its historical context is more complex. Now an official federal holiday, Juneteenth offers an opportunity to engage with a significant chapter in American history that is often overlooked. On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. On June 19, 1865 (Juneteenth), enslaved people discovered they were free. The Emancipation Proclamation wasn't ratified until December 1865, making it the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Think about it, can you imagine something as significant as being freed from bondage and not knowing you were freed for more than two years after the paperwork was signed? For some, this holiday represents a time to reflect on and celebrate freedom, resilience and the pursuit of equality. For others, who are just beginning to understand the significance of the date, they may appreciate the federal holiday aspect – a day off – without delving into the complex and often uncomfortable conversations about our shared history. Your Turn: I suffered for 51 years without DEI policies. I won't go back. | Opinion Forum What is Juneteenth – and what does it mean to you? Tell us. As we observe the fourth anniversary of Juneteenth as a national holiday, we invite you to share your thoughts on what this holiday means to you. We want to hear from you. Please tell us your thoughts on how this important day resonates (or does not) across your community and whether holidays such as this one have become too politicized to hold significant meaning. Fill out the form below, or send us an email to forum@ with the subject line "Forum Juneteenth." We'll publish perspectives from all sides of the conversation in a weekly Forum installment. Michael McCarter is vice president of the Gannett Opinion Group.
Washington Post
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Biden's retirement plan?
Good morning, Early Birds. It's Emancipation Day in D.C., where President Abraham Lincoln ordered an end to slavery 163 years ago today. Send tips to earlytips@ Thanks for waking up with us. In today's edition … Ernst gets a Democratic opponent … Top Trump critics rake in campaign cash … but first …
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
On This Day, April 16: MLK Jr. writes 'Letter from Birmingham Jail'
April 16 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1862, the U.S. Congress abolished slavery in the District of Columbia. In 2005, the city officially began observing the date as Emancipation Day. In 1912, as crowds gathered outside its New York City offices, the White Star Line denied that it was withholding information on the sinking of RMS Titanic. In 1947, a fire aboard the French freighter Grandcamp in the Texas City, Texas, port on Galveston Bay ignited ammonium nitrate and other explosive materials in the ship's hold, causing a massive blast that destroyed much of the city and killed nearly 600 people. In 1963, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote "Letter from Birmingham Jail" while imprisoned in Alabama for protesting segregation. It was published May 19, 1963. In 1972, Apollo 16 blasted off on an 11-day moon mission with three astronauts aboard. In 1990, Dr. Jack Kevorkian helped in his first assisted suicide. In December, he was charged with murder for the death of a woman with Alzheimer's disease, who died using his so-called suicide machine in June. In 1991, the first Jewish settlement under the Israeli government opened in the occupied territories, defying a U.S. request to stop settlement activity in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In 1999, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky announced his retirement from the NHL after 21 years. He was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in November without having to go through the usual three-year waiting period. In 2002, Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok and members of his government resigned after a report faulted them, along with the United Nations, for failing to prevent the 1995 massacre of 7,500 Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica, Bosnia. In 2007, Seung-Hui Cho, a senior at Virginia Tech, went on a campus shooting rampage, killing 32 people before killing himself. In 2011, a vicious rash of tornadoes tore through 14 U.S. states over three days, leaving more than 40 people dead and many others homeless. In 2018, Kendrick Lamar became the first rapper to win the Pulitzer Prize for music for his album Damn. In 2021, Raul Castro, brother of the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, announced he was stepping down as head of Cuba's Communist Party. In 2024, one of Denmark's oldest buildings, the 400-year-old stock exchange the Børsen, went up in flames while under renovation.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
Falling tree nearly hits professional cellist in Northwest DC
WASHINGTON () — A tree that came tumbling down near Scott Circle in Northwest nearly hit a cellist who was in the area Thursday. Carlos Figueroa, who also is known as , said he was walking in the 1500 block of Massachusetts Ave. NW when he heard a loud sound. Figuroa said the tree fell as he was passing under it, nearly crushing him. 'I just couldn't believe what I just witnessed,' recalled Figueroa, who rushed away from the tree when he realized what was taking place. 'You never know what will happen.' Neither he nor anyone else was hurt. 'Where is Kilmar Abrego Garcia now?': Attorney for deported Maryland man speaks after court hearing The tree was outside of 1500 Mass Apartments, which is run by Equity Apartments. People who live there said they had been worried the tree would fall. 'It actually [has] been on the verge of coming down for a couple of months now, for like the last three or four months. It was withering away,' said Samuel Hall. 'So, I thought that they would send somebody out.' DC set to celebrate 20th anniversary of Emancipation Day holiday with parade, festival Although the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) said the tree, which was on private property, was the building's responsibility, DDOT crews responded to clear it after the tree fell in the public's right-of-way. 'It could have been a mother with her baby in the stroller or anything, you know…I'm just glad that no one got hurt,' Hall said. DC News Now reached out to Equity Apartments about the fallen tree, and it said it was looking into the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
