To the Fairfax County Community,

Today, I had the privilege of hosting a round table discussion with Governor Ralph Northam and members of the Northern Virginia Latino community. Governor Northam’s regular COVID-19 press conference also took place at the Fairfax County Government Center. You can watch the full press conference here and see a photo below.

In addition, I asked the County Executive to commemorate Juneteenth as a Fairfax County holiday, keeping with the Governor's designation on the state level. Fairfax is committed to our shared values of diversity, inclusivity, and equity, and our holidays must reflect that. Those commitments require listening to diverse voices and acknowledging the common history of all Americans.

Fairfax County Government administrative offices will therefore be closed. Employees who staff essential 24-hour County operations and other essential services will work as scheduled, including public safety and trash collection.

Juneteenth commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States. In 1865, two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, word finally reached the enslaved people in Galveston, Texas.

See below for the full June 18 edition of my newsletter. For the resources mentioned in past newsletters, visit my website. If you have a friend who would like to sign up for this newsletter, they can do so here.