Target has declared that Juneteenth (June 19) will now be an official Company Holiday. Target corporate office will be closed for the day, and employees at the stores will be offered the day off or if they choose to work they will get paid time and half. Target Corporate said in a statement that are giving their team space to honor Juneteenth in their own way.

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Brian Cornell, chairman and CEO,  of Target said "We recognize that the racial trauma the country is experiencing now is not new, but throughout recent weeks there has been a sense that this time is, and has to be, different. Juneteenth takes on additional significance in this moment. Moving now to recognize it on an annual basis—as a day to celebrate, further educate ourselves or connect with our communities—is one more important action Target can take as a company to help the country live up to the ideal of moving forward in a new way.'

Target Corporate stated that they are building on a strong foundation of diversity and inclusion. Target has already committed  $10 million to advance social justice and support rebuilding and recovery efforts in local communities. And now the next step is recognizing Juneteenth.

Target Corporate released a statement saying: "This is just one step. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll continue to listen and learn from our team members, our guests and our community partners—all to further Target’s role in creating tangible and lasting change."

As someone who has always shopped at Target I for one am proud to say I shop there and will continue to do so in the future. Hopefully some other U.S. companies will learn from their example and follow suit.

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