President Joe Biden signed legislation Thursday, June 17, 2021 establishing a new federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery, saying he believes it will go down as one of the greatest honors he has as president.

Biden signed into law a bill to make Juneteenth, or June 19, the 12th federal holiday. The House voted 415-14 on Wednesday to send the bill to Biden, while the Senate passed the bill unanimously the day before.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas — two months after the Confederacy had surrendered. That was also about 2 1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in the Southern states.

Story: [ Ссылка ]

Follow WHAS11 on Social:
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]...
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]...
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]...

Subscribe to WHAS11 for exclusive content: [ Ссылка ]......

Download the WHAS11 News app
Apple: [ Ссылка ]...
Android: [ Ссылка ]

свернуть