Since 2020, CAIR-Chicago has observed Juneteenth by closing its office to celebrate the emancipation of the last enslaved Black Americans and honor the lives lost to slavery. Juneteenth has since replaced the office’s observance of Columbus Day. CAIR-Chicago will continue this tradition, while standing in support of our Black community members who face unjust discrimination to this day.

“As a civil rights organization, this double change in office holiday observance only feels right and timely. We have been long bothered about having to observe Columbus day while Juneteenth is ignored. We have been supporting calls for legislative change, but why wait? We have decided to do what feels right, right now, and hope the rest of the country catches up," Executive Director, Ahmed Rehab, said in a 2020 press release.