Syracuse and Onondaga County are following the lead of Governor Andrew Cuomo and other state and city governments across the country in making Juneteenth a holiday.

That means most county and city employees will have the day off.

Syracuse usually hosts a parade and festival each year, but that's been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the Juneteenth flag will fly in front of city hall Friday to commemorate the holiday.

"I believe we are in a moment in our city and in our country that is going to fundamentally change what we look like going forward," said Mayor Ben Walsh. "If we truly want to be a nation that we know we're capable of, then we have to come to a reckoning with the sins of our past."

The city Binghamton also holds a flag raising ceremony every year. 

Juneteenth commemorates the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas and has come to be a celebration of the end of slavery in the United States.

Juneteenth of Syracuse board members believe there needs to be more education about what happened in 1865.

"There's information that needs to be spread not only for the benefit of African Americans, but for the benefit of white people as well. I think that strengthens the relationship between white people and black people," said Thomas Carter, a Juneteenth Board Member.

Board members say they plan to have a large Juneteenth festival in 2021.