Kings declare Juneteenth a paid holiday to commemorate emancipation of slavery
The Kings announced Wednesday they will observe Juneteenth as an annual paid company holiday.
Juneteenth, which is observed each year on June 19, is the oldest nationally celebrated holiday commemorating emancipation from slavery in the United States. The Kings said Juneteenth will be designated as an annual company-wide paid holiday, providing employees an opportunity to reflect, educate and participate in civic engagement.
“We are proud to celebrate Juneteenth, honoring Black history and further committing ourselves to creating positive meaningful change,” Kings Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis said in a news release. “The Kings remain dedicated to working with our community to address racial inequity through sustained action.”
The team made the announcement amid a national uprising over the death of George Floyd, who died while being subdued by a Minneapolis police officer. The Kings said they will continue to share educational resources online at Kings.com/Juneteenth and on social media, including a video produced by the organization’s Black and Beyond employee resource group, whose goal is to support and promote the talent of African American team members through professional development and community service initiatives.
Members of the organization will also participate in the Black Child Legacy Campaign and Build.Black Week of Action, which is expected to include community conversations and peace marches. The team has donated 10,000 masks to event organizers to distribute to guests and volunteers.
Current and former members of the Kings organization joined thousands of protesters June 6 in one of the largest demonstrations in Sacramento’s recent history, marching through downtown streets in support of Black Lives Matter.
The Kings took another step in their advocacy of social justice issues last week, making a “Pledge to Our Black Community” to help combat racial injustice and invest in meaningful change. The team said it was announcing the new initiative in solidarity with communities across the country, continuing the organization’s commitment to influence social and systemic change to address institutional racism.
The Kings also released a new PSA, entitled “A Call to Action for White People,” calling for unity and action following Floyd’s death. The two-minute video, made in collaboration with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx and Sacramento Area Youth Speaks, features players from all three teams, including De’Aaron Fox, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Marvin Bagley III, Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell. Others speakers include Kings general manager Vlade Divac, Kings coach Luke Walton, Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders, and former Kings players Bobby Jackson and Doug Christie.
