No sugarcoating N.J.s history with slavery from Murphy at Juneteenth event – NJ.com

With moments of joyous song and yet an acute awareness of history of slavery and discrimination, Gov. Phil Murphy joined about 100 people as they reflected on the past and the future in a Juneteenth celebration Monday.

The governor didnt mince words or sugarcoat New Jerseys troubled past inside of Greater Mount Zion AME Church in Trenton.

Its not a history of which we should be in anyway proud, he said, referring to slavery.

Murphy went on to note New Jersey was one of the last states to ratify the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery. The state was also one of the last to ratify the 14th and 15 amendments, which gave Black people equal protection under the law and the latter gave Black men the right to vote.

New Jersey didnt ratify the 14th Amendment until April 2003, Murphy noted.

The day remembers June 19, 1865, when Gen. Gordon Granger and Union soldiers brought news of the Emancipation Proclamation to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, and declared that all people held in slavery in the U.S. must be freed. They were the last slaves to learn of their freedom because Texas was a remote state.

The governor also went as far as to point out that there were still enslaved Black people in New Jersey when Union soldiers brought the news to Texas.

But to be absolutely certain it is a history we must acknowledge and a history we must teach, Murphy said, adding, While we cannot undo our states sorry legacy on race, we can work to overcome and make up for it.

Mondays event was one of numerous celebrations and remembrances that took place across the state over the last few days.

Asbury Park held Juneteenth celebrations at Springwood Ave. Park, with 34 vendors and 10 performers in attendance at the second annual event. There was free food, vendors, activities, and performances for attendees to enjoy.

In South Jersey, the Gloucester County NAACP and Gloucester County Prosecutors Office hosted their third annual Juneteenth celebration in Deptford on Saturday at Fasola Park, featuring live music, food, vendors, a DJ, and more.

New Jersey celebrated Juneteenth as a state holiday on Friday, for the second year. But the federal holiday for Juneteenth is Monday.

NJ Advance Media Staff Writer Amethyst Martinez contributed to this report.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.

More:

No sugarcoating N.J.s history with slavery from Murphy at Juneteenth event - NJ.com