Rally calls on Nassau County to recognize Juneteenth as official holiday
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Dozens of county workers, civil rights advocates, clergy members and elected officials stood outside the Nassau County Legislative and Executive Building on June 9 to urge Nassau County to officially recognize Juneteenth as a county holiday.
The rally came less than two weeks before the June 19 observance commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
“Our message here to today is very clear,” County Legislator Olena Nicks said. “Nassau County cannot keep celebrating Juneteenth in words without recognizing it in policy.”
Participants were decked out in yellow, red and green shirts that read, "Recognize Juneteenth Now!” while carrying Juneteenth-themed signs sporting the same message. They also chanted, “What do we want? Juneteenth! When do we want it? Now!” and “Blakeman Blakeman give us the day!”
They called on County Executive Bruce Blakeman to grant county employees a paid holiday in recognition of the day.
“I’m just going to say something very simple,” Barbara Powell, president of NAACP Hempstead Branch said. “Do the right thing, Mr. Blakeman. Do the right thing.”
Blakeman responded in a statement that the county's reasoning is there are already 13 paid holidays recognized, stating every county but one in New York State has 13 paid holidays for their employees.
"I told them I will give you Juneteenth, you give me another holiday back," Blakeman said referring to CSEA. "That's the fiscally prudant thing to do."
Nassau County remains among the few county governments in New York state that has not formally recognized Juneteenth as an official holiday, despite the federal government and the state observing it.
“It’s disappointing that we’re still here in 2026 and we’re still fighting for the recognition of Juneteenth and what it represents,” Kris Kalendar, president of the CSEA Nassau Local 830 said. “The federal government recognizes Juneteenth, New York State recognizes Juneteenth, all three townships in Nassau County see Juneteenth.”
Throughout the rally, attendees emphasized the historical significance of Juneteenth and argued that the county should do more than acknowledge the holiday symbolically.
“Recognition of Juneteenth should not be controversial,” Kalendar said. “This isn't about special treatment, it's about equality and it's about respect, the respect that we deserve.” Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The day became a federal holiday in 2021.
“Why is Nassau County still treating Juneteenth like just another workday?” County Legislator Debra Mulé said. “That is the question, and the answer is not good enough.”
The demonstration was organized by Nicks and drew support from CSEA Local 830, the Hempstead NAACP, Union Baptist Church in Hempstead and members of the Legislature's Democratic Minority Caucus. Among those taking part were CSEA Local 830 President Kalender, Hempstead NAACP President Powell and the Rev. Sedgwick Easley. CSEA Local 830 represents more than 4,200 Nassau County employees.
Organizers said recognizing Juneteenth as a county holiday would align Nassau with state and federal governments and acknowledge the contributions and history of Black Americans.
As of press time, the Herald was awaiting a statement from Blakeman.