Pennsylvania Juneteenth

A Personal History Behind House Bill 619 and Act 9 of 2019

Juneteenth commemorates the final enforcement of emancipation in the United States and is widely recognized as marking the end of slavery in America.

This page preserves the story behind Pennsylvania's recognition of Juneteenth as a state holiday and the role the Lawson family played in helping make that achievement possible. Through years of advocacy, civic engagement, relationship-building, and public service, the family helped champion the effort that ultimately resulted in House Bill 619 and Act 9 of 2019.

Texas became the first state to formally recognize Juneteenth in 1980. For nearly forty years, no other state followed. In 2019, Pennsylvania enacted House Bill 619 as Act 9 of 2019, becoming the first state in nearly four decades to establish Juneteenth as a state holiday. Two years later, Juneteenth became a federal holiday.

In the interview below, Representative Sue Helm shares her firsthand account of the journey that led to Pennsylvania's recognition of Juneteenth, including the advocacy, leadership, and relationships that helped bring the legislation to the Governor's desk.

Act 9 of 2019 | Signing Ceremony