Closing Thought–18Jun21
Today is Juneteenth…..Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.
The US Senate has passed the bill that would make this a Federal holiday…..
The Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would make Juneteenth, or June 19th, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The bill would lead to Juneteenth becoming the 12th federal holiday. It is expected to easily pass the House, which would send it to President Biden for his signature, the AP reports. Juneteenth commemorates when the last enslaved African Americans learned they were free. Confederate soldiers surrendered in April 1865, but word didn’t reach the last enslaved Black people until June 19, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to Galveston, Texas. That was also about two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
“Making Juneteenth a federal holiday is a major step forward to recognize the wrongs of the past,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. “But we must continue to work to ensure equal justice and fulfill the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation and our Constitution.” The Senate passed the bill under a unanimous consent agreement that expedites the process for considering legislation. It takes just one senator’s objection to block such agreements. GOP Sen. Ron Johnson had objected in the previous Congress to a bill to celebrate Juneteenth as a federal holiday because of the cost, but he said Tuesday that “it is clear that there is no appetite in Congress to further discuss the matter.” The bill was sponsored by Democratic Sen. Edward Markey and had 60 co-sponsors.
Biden will sign and it will become the 12th Federal holiday.
It is now official!
Enjoy your long weekend….
Be Well……Be Safe…..
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
Always nice to get an extra national holiday, and that’s a good one to have too.
Best wishes, Pete.
I agree…but now when will other minority want a special holiday….chuq
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
Again much appreciated….chuq
You are welcome, Chuq! Thank you for all the useful information. xx
Glad I could be helpful chuq
Thank you, Chuq! Always best information! xx Michael
Thanx Michael I appreciate your visits. chuq
Congratulations! It was about time. I agree with you Chuq! This will result in further requests for official memorial days. xx Michael
I agree….this is long overdue…..chuq
:-)) Let hope the will give it flesh on the bones.
I’m totally fine with adding some other holidays to the calendar 😉 We don’t get enough of them in this country anyway!!
A good attitude! Lol xx Enjoy a beautiful weekend! xx Michael
Thank you! It’s been gorgeous indeed!
support the idea of Juneteenth…..it’s certainly more deserved than a holiday for a Genoese Contractor who didn’t ‘discover’ the ‘new world’……
It might have been nice though, to have more than a days notice, for federal employees with school-aged children, or those who were relying on government services, like court hearing and the like.
I agree…..that was a PR stunt I believe chuq