Is Juneteenth Friday? Is it Monday? Here is why the answer isn't always obvious

“I think words matter, but we know that actions matter even more,” said Gov. Phil Murphy in June 2020 as he signed into law the incorporation of Juneteenth as one of the state’s holidays, to be celebrated on the third Friday of June.

A year later, President Joe Biden did the same, signing a law that declared June 19 a federal holiday in commemoration of Juneteenth, a celebration that honors the end of slavery in the U.S.

The result is some confusion as to when the day should be celebrated, with the state holiday being honored on Friday, and thus state offices and courts will be closed. The federal holiday is celebrated on June 19 no matter what day of the week it falls on (this year it is Monday) and local towns, schools and private employers are free to make their own choices.

Some municipalities in the Garden State are not observing the holiday. This year, in Ocean and Monmouth counties, only a handful of towns are taking a day off in observance of the holiday.

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The municipal buildings of Asbury Park, Neptune, Ocean Township, Lakewood, Manchester and Barnegat will be closed for a day in observance of Juneteenth.

The holiday's origins date to an order on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas among the last slaves to learn of their freedom following the Civil War. Over the years advocates have promoted it as a national holiday to mark the end of slavery, and it received a renewed push following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 and the subsequent protests in favor of the Black Lives Matter movement.

When the Asbury Park Press asked municipal governments why their town halls are not observing Juneteenth, union contracts were the common denominator in their answers.

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“All of Howell's holidays are contained in our union agreements. When those agreements expire, the township is amenable to including Juneteenth in the list of observed holidays,” said township manager Joseph Clark.

“Toms River Township's holidays are negotiated in our union contracts. Employees who wish to celebrate the holiday with a day off from work are able to do so by using their floating holiday or their personal time,” said Art Gallagher, a township official.

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In Marlboro, township officials said that while the municipal building will be open for business, permanent full-time employees will be allowed to take a day off in celebration of Juneteenth.

Employees in Freehold Township, which does not observe Juneteenth, are also permitted to take a day off. According to township administrator Peter Valesi, "adding Juneteenth as a holiday was considered by the Township Committee when it was brought up by the union representatives during our contract negotiations.”

At that time, union representatives opted not to adjust the annual holiday schedule to accommodate Juneteenth, he said.  "Similar to the Jewish holidays and other religious or secular celebrations, we attempt to recognize a balance between the need to maintain adequate staffing and the need for our individual employees to express themselves and take part in the celebrations and observances that they see fit," he added.

The inclusion of Juneteenth as holiday in Freehold Township will be reassessed in future employment contracts, Valesi said.

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In Ocean County, Lakewood and Manchester are observing Juneteenth for the first time this year.

“It’s the right thing to do, to be respectful and inclusive of the holidays,” said Manchester Mayor Robert Arace.

“Juneteenth is more than remembering when slavery was abolished. It is saying we care about what those Black Americans went through, just like acknowledging the Holocaust, and then figuring out steps to make things better,” said Colin Lewis, a Lakewood resident.

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Eatontown Councilwoman Danielle Jones regrets that her town is not observing the holiday nor planned any celebrations for its recognition.

"As the only African American currently serving on Borough Council, I wish to see an acknowledgement of the holiday plus collaborations with community organizations to educate New Jerseyans about the historical, cultural, political and social significance and resilience of African Americans in our great nation," Jones said.

"Celebrating Juneteenth is part of all Americans learning and embracing our history, as we continue to work towards a more perfect union.  Black History is American History," Jones added.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: When is Juneteenth being celebrated in NJ? It's not always clear