Emancipation Day is the only official holiday in the District of Columbia to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act, which president Abraham Lincoln signed on April 16, 1862. It is in commemoration of Lincoln buying all 3,400 slaves in the District in 1862. It is the only compensated emancipation in US history. He did this as a prelude to the Emancipation Proclamation which came 9 months later.

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW - Shadow Politics with Senator Michael D. Brown and Kathleen Gomez, special guest: Ann Loikow, Founder of Statehood Yes We Can. Topic Campaign, discuss Columbia Emancipation Day, April 16th, (April 16th, 1862 officially began), the only official holiday in the District of Columbia. What is the day's significance?