On June 19th, 2022, President Joe Biden, by executive order, made this day a federal holiday. Juneteenth, as it’s commonly called, marks the day when U.S. troops entered Galveston, Texas in 1865 to free people who were still suffering enslavement. This is despite the fact that slavery had officially ended two and a half years prior.

The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state, were free by executive decree.

Juneteenth is considered America's second independence day.

In honor of that, we here on The Gaggle present to you a reading of the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants citizenship to all persons either born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved people. The amendment also provides equal protection under law.

Here to read the Amendment are staff and reporters of The Arizona Republic.

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Arizona Republic reporters read the 14th Amendment