New York State Lawmakers Establish Juneteenth A State Holiday

Albany, N.Y. - New York state lawmakers have voted unanimously to establish June 19 also known as Juneteenth, a state holiday.

The holiday will honor “Black and African American freedom and achievements while encouraging continuous self- development and respect for all cultures,” the legislation says. The vote was passed in the New York State Assembly 142 to nothing and in the state Senate, 58 to 0.

Juneteenth marks the day on June 19, 1865, that Union soldiers told enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, that the Civil War had ended and they were free.

(Getty Images)


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content