Juneteenth With the signing of A.B. 140 into law, Juneteenth is now designated as a legal holiday in the state of Nevada. We mark this occasion with a profound sense of appreciation to remember and recognize one of the most important dates in our nation's history.

June 16, 2023
Morrill Hall sits on the south end of the University of Nevada, Reno quad, a large lawn area surrounded by trees and a walking path.

Juneteenth

With the signing of A.B. 140 into law, Juneteenth is now designated as a legal holiday in the state of Nevada. We mark this occasion with a profound sense of appreciation to remember and recognize one of the most important dates in our nation's history.

June 16, 2023

Dear Wolf Pack Family,

Earlier this month, Gov. Joe Lombardo signed into law Assembly Bill 140, which designates Juneteenth as a legal holiday in the state of Nevada on June 19 of each year. A.B. 140 stipulates that if the date falls on a weekend, the holiday will be observed on either the previous Friday or following Monday. This first observance of this new statewide recognition will be held on Monday, June 19, 2023. The Juneteenth holiday’s recognition on Monday means that University of Nevada, Reno offices will be closed and there will be no classes held.

We mark this historic occasion with a profound sense of appreciation that Juneteenth will forever mark an opportunity for the people of Nevada to remember, learn more about and share in the lessons of what is one of the most important dates in our nation’s history.

It was on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, when the last enslaved Black Americans were freed. Since that time, Juneteenth has been a date of great and enduring importance for all of us. In February, in a letter to Assemblywoman Selena Torres, the chair of the Assembly Committee on Government Affairs, Jyoti Chopra, the Chief People, Inclusion and Sustainability Officer for MGM Resorts, movingly explained why Juneteenth deserved its special designation as a state holiday:

“By elevating Juneteenth to a legal state holiday, passage of Assembly Bill 140 would provide an important opportunity to reflect on the past, create hope for the future, and send a powerful and enduring message that — as we continue our unwavering duty as Americans to form a more perfect union, Nevada recognizes there is no greater promise than freedom, justice and equality for all.”

Please join me in not only recognizing today’s historic commemoration, but in moving forward, in sharing the story, the history, and the achievements of Black Americans whose immense contributions have helped make our nation what it is today.

Go Pack!

Sincere regards,

Brian Sandoval
President

June 16, 2023