MoFo Observes Juneteenth on Monday, June 19, 2023

This holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. Though the Emancipation Proclamation had been published in 1863, there were few Union soldiers in Texas and, as a result, many people remained in bondage even after the Civil War. As we celebrate Juneteenth, we also reflect on the unfinished work of securing racial justice.

The Morrison & Foerster Foundation is donating $20,000 across a variety of non-profits in celebration of this day and the Black community. These organizations are:

• The John Paul Stevens Fellowship Foundation for its fellowship program at HBCU law schools, which provides grants to enable law students at participating schools to work in unpaid public interest summer law positions.
• The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund for its Marshall-Motley Scholars Program, a five-year initiative to support and develop the next wave of civil rights lawyers in the South, where the majority of Black Americans live.
• The Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, which focuses on increasing and retaining journalists and editors of color in the field of investigative reporting.

Local events commemorating Juneteenth are being held in many parts of the country this year. We encourage you to find and attend a local celebration or event in your community to mark this holiday. There are also several virtual events available:

• Understanding Juneteenth: An Online Celebration – Learn the history of Emancipation Day, now commonly referred to as "Juneteenth," and how it has been celebrated throughout the U.S.
• The 14th Annual Juneteenth Summit NYC Festival – A virtual celebration which includes health and wellness panels and cultural celebrations.

This is also an opportunity to spend a day in service or working to advance racial justice. We encourage you to reach out to local organizations in your community to find ways to get involved.