Lake County Gazette

Encouraging people to visit the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture's website and social media to learn the history of the Juneteenth holiday, Illinois 10th Congressional District candidate Jim Carris said, "Celebrating freedom!" He made this statement in a June 19 Facebook post.

"On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas with the history-changing news that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free," said Carris, according to Facebook. "This day came to be known as #Juneteenth and is now officially a federal holiday. I encourage you to visit @nmaahc on social media to learn more about the holiday from the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Celebrating freedom!"

Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed the enslaved people there that they were free, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. According to History.com’s webpage focused on the holiday, General Gordon Granger read General Orders No. 3 on this day in 1865, saying, "The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free." This occurred two months after General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

Screenshot of Jim Carris' June 19 Facebook post | Jim Carris For Congress Facebook page

Juneteenth became a national holiday on June 19, 2021, with a proclamation from President Joseph R. Biden. "As those who were formerly enslaved were recognized for the first time as citizens, Black Americans came to commemorate Juneteenth with celebrations across the country, building new lives and a new tradition that we honor today," said Biden in the proclamation. "In its celebration of freedom, Juneteenth is a day that should be recognized by all Americans. And that is why I am proud to have consecrated Juneteenth as our newest national holiday."

The 10th District is currently held by incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider.

It covers the municipalities of Antioch, Fox Lake, Lake Villa, Grayslake, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Waukegan, Highland Park, North Chicago, Park City, Lake Forest, Gurnee, Zion, Libertyville; Round Lake; Round Lake Beach in Lake County; Winnetka; Glencoe; Kenilworth; Northbrook; Wheeling in Cook County; Spring Grove; Richmond; Hebron; Wonder Lake; and Johnsburg in McHenry County.

According to Ballotpedia, Carris was the only Republican candidate in the primary election for the U.S. House Illinois District 10 seat. He will face three challengers in the general election in November.