On June 19, 1865 Union General Gordon Granger read out the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas to notify those slaves that they were free.
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862 to declare slaves their freedom in areas under the Confederate control, including Florida. Freedom from slavery took effect January 1, 1863. This date is known as "Jubilee Day".
Happy Juneteenth, Everyone. 