FORT MYERS, Fla.- Thousands honored the freedom of enslaved people in Texas by celebrating Juneteenth on Friday.
It became a federal holiday on Thursday after President Joe Biden signed it into law.
Previous coverage: House votes to make Juneteenth a federal holiday
Lee County historians say Florida has it’s own date of celebration.
“Florida’s emancipation date is actually May 20th. That’s when the [federal] soldiers went to Tallahassee and [presented] the Emancipation Proclamation stating that the state of Florida is actually free of slavery,” said Charles Barnes, Chair of the Lee County Black History Society.
For two years, enslaved people were owned illegally in Florida after President Lincoln emancipated the country in January 1863. Black organizations and communities have celebrated Florida’s “Freedom Day” on May 20 for decades.
Governor DeSantis recognized the day when issuing a Juneteenth proclamation in 2020, which nodded to the state’s emancipation.
“I think we need to make sure we don’t slight that date, because that date is very important to Floridians for sure,” said Barnes.
Barnes says May 20 is celebrated much like Junteenth by honoring black men and women who gained freedom.
“We have to somehow find a way of celebrating May 20 and also I think June 19,” said Barnes.
Some Freedom Day celebrations were canceled because of the pandemic.
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Lee County black leaders explain significance of Freedom Day, Juneteenth - ABC7 News
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