On May 13, 2026, the Genesee County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution recognizing Juneteenth. Here is the text of the resolution:

WHEREAS, the celebration of Juneteenth recognizes the abolition of slavery and the anniversary of Union Army General Gordon Granger landing in Galveston, Texas, in June 1865, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, where he read aloud General Order No. 3 stating that all enslaved people were free; and

WHEREAS, June 19 is a day to reflect and rejoice, marking freedom for people who toiled, suffered, and resisted under the yoke of enslavement; and it is also an occasion to embrace with joy the ingenuity, spirit, and vibrancy of Black culture; and it offers a poignant reminder that none of us is free unless all of us are free, and that the work to advance freedom and rights for African Americans has helped solidify rights that every person in the country depends upon; and

WHEREAS, Juneteenth was officially adopted as a federal holiday in 2021, while Juneteenth has been celebrated in Genesee County for 54 years, spurred on by Dr. E. Hill De Loney, who was known as the “Founder and Mother of the Flint Juneteenth Celebration,” and who established planning committees with local Flint and Genesee County residents to host annual Juneteenth events, parades, and the annual Freedom Fund Dinner; and

WHEREAS, local Juneteenth festivities this year start on May 31 and continue through June 28 with a variety of activities throughout the Genesee County community, including the community parade taking place on June 19 at noon, starting at Max Brandon Park and continuing to Downtown Flint.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, hereby recognizes Juneteenth 2026 in Genesee County and encourages all County departments to engage in celebratory activities and appropriate recognitions, such as participating in community events, sharing stories, and learning about contributions Black Americans have made to our County and nation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Genesee County Clerk/Register is directed to provide one copy of this Resolution to each city, village, and township within Genesee County and to each County Clerk in the State of Michigan.