In an email from Torrey Lawrence, University of Idaho provost and executive vice president, he announced that UI will be observing Juneteenth. The university will close at all its locations on Monday, June 21 for the holiday.
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S. with the conclusion of the Civil War on June 19, 1865.
While Juneteenth falls on Saturday, June 19, the university will remain open Friday with UIdaho Bound occurring on campus.
“Hundreds of future Vandals and their families are on campus Friday for UIdaho Bound and we are committed to them and their experience,” Lawerence stated in the email. “We will remain open at all locations Friday.”
Thursday, President Joe Biden signed into law the national observance of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Gov. Brad Little announced in a proclamation issued later in the day that Idaho will recognize the holiday.
Little’s proclamation states that state offices will close June 18 in observance. Though, many counties have announced that due to the short notice, some state and local offices will remain open.
Daniel V. Ramirez can be reached at [email protected] or Twitter @DVR_Tweets