Juneteenth celebrations took place across Los Angeles to commemorate the holiday that marks the date slaves were freed in the U.S. after the Civil War.
Tiffany Haddish joined the large forum that took place outside of the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood on Friday.
The 40-year-old actress wore a flower crown and grey tee from the She Ready foundation as she took the stage.
Speaking up: Tiffany Haddish joined the large forum that took place outside of the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood on Friday to celebrate Juneteenth
Tiffany spoke to the crowd at the event that aimed to bring comics and Hollywood together for the holiday.
She also posed for photos with fans after the event, though it did not appear they were wearing masks while getting close, despite regulations.
Celebrities, including Lizzo, Taylor Swift and Tom Hanks, took to social media on Friday to make the holiday, known as Freedom Day.
Lizzo announced a sweepstakes with all proceeds going charities including to Black Women Speak, the Black Church Security Network, HeadCount and the Minneapolis Sanctuary Movement.
Bright: The 40-year-old actress wore a flower crown and grey tee from the She Ready foundation as she took the stage
In honor: Juneteenth celebrations took place across Los Angeles to commemorate the holiday that marks the date slaves were freed in the U.S. after the Civil War
The Forrest Gump star then added a quote from the Declaration Of Independence: “…That all men are created equal…”‘
In his caption the beloved movie icon wrote: ‘A Day to celebrate. Nationally. Working towards Liberty and Justice. For All. Hanx.
On June 19, 1865, Texas became the last state in the defeated Confederacy where the Emancipation Proclamation was officially announced by the Union.
Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing Confederate slaves on New Year’s Day 1963, though the fight with the Confederacy delayed freedom for two more year.
Announcement; Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived at Galveston Island on June 19 with 2,000 of his men and announced the end of chattel slavery in Texas
Together: She also posed for photos with fans after the event, though it did not appear they were wearing masks while getting close, despite regulations
Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union’s Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865 – less than a full week before Lincoln was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
As the South was retaken by the United States the former Confederacy was finally subject to the Emancipation Proclamation.
Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived at Galveston Island on June 19 with 2,000 of his men and announced the end of chattel slavery in Texas.
‘The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free,’ he declared according to the Texas State Library And Archives Commission.
Smile: Tiffany beamed a wide smile as she posed for photos at the event
Large gathering: Hundreds of people seemed to gather outside of the comedy club
Slave states that remained in the Union throughout the Civil War were permitted to retain slavery until the 13th amendment was ratified at the end of 1865.
Juneteenth has been celebrated by black Americans in the South since 1865 and in 1980 Texas became the first state to make it an official holiday.
This month as protests and riots swept the nation after the George Floyd killing there have been calls to make Juneteenth a national holiday.
New York State and Virginia have moved towards officially recognizing Juneteenth, and Portland has now also made it a paid day off.
‘Give back to black: To mark the occasion Lizzo, 32, announced a sweepstakes with all proceeds going charities including to Black Women Speak, the Black Church Security Network, HeadCount and the Minneapolis Sanctuary Movement
‘A Day to celebrate’: Tom Hanks, who famously collects vintage typewriters, posted an Instagram picture of a holiday message that appeared to be written on one of them