Governor also proclaims June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth in the commonwealth, a day he has declared an executive branch holiday
FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 15, 2026) – Ahead of Juneteenth, Gov. Andy Beshear has taken executive action to posthumously pardon 43 wrongfully imprisoned individuals who helped enslaved people escape to freedom. The Governor also proclaimed Friday, June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth National Freedom Day in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
“When we have a chance to correct a historical wrong, we should do it. That’s why ahead of Juneteenth, I am posthumously pardoning 43 brave Kentuckians who were wrongfully imprisoned for helping enslaved people escape to freedom,” said Beshear. “These leaders are heroes – not criminals – and they and their families deserve the justice of having their names cleared.”
The executive order signed by the Governor lists the names of all individuals pardoned today. Three of the 43 individuals included are:
- Elijah Anderson, a free Black man who was one of the most active Underground Railroad conductors in Kentucky. According to research and records, he helped around 1,000 people reach freedom. He was arrested in Louisville for his efforts and later died in the Kentucky State Penitentiary.
- Julett Miles, a Black woman who was freed by Rev. John Fee and moved north. After learning her children were going to be sold, Julett traveled across the Ohio River to free them. She was arrested and put in prison where she later died.
- Thomas Brown, an Irish immigrant who was arrested at the age of 60 and imprisoned. He suffered severe beatings for two years before being released.
Joining the Governor as he signed the executive order was Rev. Andrew Baskin, professor emeritus and former associate professor of African and African American Studies at Berea College, and James Prichard, a historian, author and former member of the Filson Historical Society staff.
“We’re talking about individuals who knew that there was a law, they knew that the law was unjust, they knew that the law was immoral, and they were willing to disobey the law and to suffer the consequences,” said Baskin. “What Gov. Beshear did today is help to correct part of the mistakes that have happened in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
“Gov. Beshear’s pardon sheds a spotlight on this neglected chapter in Kentucky’s history,” said Prichard. “I think it’s important, particularly in this time when there seems to be an effort to sanitize our past, that this part of our history is no longer swept under the rug and becomes a part of Kentucky’s soil. It is well that Kentucky has finally honored the courage and sacrifice of those whose names have previously been lost to history.”
The Governor acknowledged that there are more stories out there of individuals who deserve the same and encouraged Kentuckians who know of someone who deserves a posthumous pardon for their work to help enslaved individuals reach freedom to email FreedomTrailPardons@ky.gov. All requests will be reviewed for consideration.
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