How is it possible that I didn't learn about this until just now?

"The District will observe Emancipation Day Monday April 17th to mark Abraham Lincoln's signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act on April 16, 1862. The act freed about 3,100 slaves in the District."

Of course, I knew about emancipation, but I didn't know that the DC government celebrated it with a holiday and a parade.

Tsk, tsk, tsk on me.