Juneteenth Becomes a Federal Holiday
This past Thursday, June 17th, President Joe Biden signed a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Juneteenth is on June 19th and it’s to commemorate when the Federal Government's ordered the final execution and fulfillment of the terms of the Emancipation Proclamation. The people to whom this order was addressed were the last group of Americans to be informed that all formerly enslaved persons were now free.
President Joe Biden said it was one of the greatest honors of his presidency.
“Great nations don’t ignore their most painful moments, they embrace them,” said Joe Biden.
I got the chance to ask a couple of people in our community about their thoughts on Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday.
“ I believe it’s delayed justice. It’s bittersweet and should’ve happened a long time ago. All in all, I’m extremely happy that it has happened.” That was a local navy veteran Shavon Highter’s thoughts.
Local activist and community organizer Amber Orion also said the same thing. She also added, “ It’s unbelievable that it’s just now being turned into a federal holiday 155 years after the actual date.”
It seems that it’s an amazing thing that has happened and long overdue. For more information about what Juneteenth is, click here.
