Closures and schedule changes for Juneteenth. The federal holiday is observed Monday, June 20. Here’s how libraries, government offices, the U.S. Postal Service and transportation services have adjusted schedules.
Government offices:
Federal offices and courts – closed Monday
Oregon and Washington state offices and courts – closed Monday
Portland parking meters – regular rates on Monday
Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington and Clark county offices, city of Portland and Vancouver offices – closed Monday.
New in 2022, postal mail (USPS) will not be delivered Monday, June 20, and post offices will be closed.
Libraries:
City of Hillsboro: City offices and some facilities will be closed or have modified schedules on Monday, June 20.
(Check your local library branch for operating hours Monday, June 20.)
Public transportation:
TriMet buses and MAX will run on regular schedules Monday, June 20. WES will have no service.
C-Tran: Regular service Monday
Portland Streetcar will run on Saturday schedules Monday.
Portland Aerial Tram on regular schedule Monday.
The Associated Press reports:
U.S. financial markets will observe the Juneteenth holiday for the first time Monday.
Last year, Juneteenth was designated a federal holiday to mark the effective end of slavery in the U.S. Since June 19 fells on a Sunday this year, it is being observed on Monday.
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers brought news to Black people who were still enslaved in Galveston, Texas that they were free. That was two months after the Confederacy surrendered in the Civil War and about 2 ½ years after the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in Southern states.
Oregon is one of the states that also recognizes Juneteenth as a state holiday.
“It’s an issue of respect,” Oregon Democratic state Sen. Lew Frederick, who carried the Juneteenth bill that the Legislature unanimously passed, said in an interview. “We need to understand just what our history is about and move from there. It will increase our awareness of other issues associated with the history of racism in this country.”
Correction: This post has been corrected to reflect that parking meters in Portland were free Sunday. They require payment Monday.