On Thursday, the United States government is pausing its ongoing transformation into the sharp instrument of Donald Trump ’s MAGA movement to close for Juneteenth. June 19 has been a federal holiday since 2021, when Joe Biden signed legislation designating it as a day to commemorate the abolition of slavery in the U.S.

Despite Juneteenth’s status as a federal holiday, celebrations across the country are being scaled back or canceled, as organizers cite safety problems and mounting resistance to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives—raising concerns that political backlash is threatening the commemoration of Black freedom at time when experts say it is most needed.