Vikings Closing Offices on Friday in Recognition of Juneteenth Holiday

The Vikings are one of many NFL teams to close up shop in recognition of this important day.

The Vikings are closing all of their offices, including TCO Performance Center, on Friday in recognition of Juneteenth.

Like many other NFL teams, the Vikings will close their offices on Friday in recognition of Juneteenth. Staff has been provided with educational resources on the holiday, and the franchise is reviewing its holiday schedule for future years.

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) June 17, 2020

2020 is the first year in which the NFL is recognizing this holiday. Commissioner Roger Goodell sent an email last Friday explaining the league's decision to do so.

NFL will recognize Juneteenth as a holiday this year, Roger Goodell told the league in this email this morning: pic.twitter.com/sS0DYYk46c

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 12, 2020

“This year, as we work together as a family and in our communities to combat the racial injustices that remain deeply rooted into the fabric of our society, the NFL will observe Juneteenth on Friday, June 19th as a recognized holiday and our league offices will be closed,” Goodell wrote. “It is a day to reflect on our past, but more importantly, consider how each one of us can continue to show up and band together to work toward a better future.”

The Vikings have joined a long list of NFL teams to announce that they are treating Juneteenth as a company-wide holiday.

The history of June 19th is an important one that doesn't get enough attention in the U.S. education system. On June 19th, 1865, slaves in the state of Texas were finally freed, more than two years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Celebrations of the holiday began in 1866 and have been celebrated by millions of Black people in the 150-plus years since then.

Of course, recent events in this country have demonstrated that we still have a long way to go when it comes to racial injustice. The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked protests and a nationwide conversation about police brutality and inequality. That situation is likely what has led the NFL and many of its teams to recognize Juneteenth this year.

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