Happy #DC #EmancipationDay On April 16, 1862, Congress passed and President Abraham Lincoln signed the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act. This act freed enslaved people in DC nine months before the national Emancipation Proclamation. April 19, 2026 marks the 21st anniversary of Emancipation Day observation as an official municipal holiday. Bring your family & join a day of parades, reenactments, concert and cultural events honoring African American history and the ongoing fight for freedom and equality. #HomeSweetHome