(WWJ) Quicken Loans has vowed to make Juneteenth a paid company holiday for employees who observe the day.
In a series of tweets, CEO Jay Farner made the announcement. He wrote: "We are encouraging those team members to use it to have it to have a voice, to contribute to the community, to celebrate their identity or use it to learn more about addressing racial inequity."
Juneteenth—or June 19, 1865—commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On that day; U.S. Army Major General, Gordon Granger, traveled to Galveston, Texas to let people who were enslaved know they are free.
That came six months after Congress passed the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery.
Texas was the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday in 1979. All but three states—Hawaii, South Dakota, and North Dakota—now officially observe the day.
Twitter, Square, Nike, Lyft, and Vox Media are also adding it as a paid company holiday.
Farner called this move a step forward for the Detroit-based mortgage lending company.
"As we continue to share how we believe the communities we call home can improve opportunities for people of color," Farner said in the tweet. "It is even more critical that we can identify how we can do better as an organization."
The announcement comes as the nation erupts in protests fighting for justice for Rayshard Brooks, George Floyd Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor; and too many other African American men, women and teenagers who died at the hands of police officers or vigilantes.
