What is celebrated on Juneteenth?
Here we explain it 1:33
(CNN) -
It was a quick turnaround for federal employers to recognize Juneteenth as a new federal holiday.
But some cities were ready with new statues honoring George Floyd, whose death at the hands of police in Minneapolis sparked a nationwide racial justice movement last year.
In New York City, Terrence Floyd, George Floyd's brother, unveiled a 6-foot statue in Brooklyn as part of Juneteenth celebrations.
The new federal holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
A statue of George Floyd was unveiled at Flatbush Junction on June 19, 2021, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin fueled a global movement fighting for racial justice.
The statue's unveiling came just days after Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday.
Photo by David Dee Delgado / Getty Images
The statue will be on display at Flatbush Junction for two to three weeks before moving to Union Square in Manhattan, according to CNN affiliate WABC.
On Wednesday, a statue of Floyd was unveiled in front of City Hall in Newark, New Jersey.
Today Mayor @rasjbaraka unveiled a donated statue honoring George Floyd in front of City Hall, alongside Filmmaker Leon Pickney, Artist Stanley Watts, Activist Larry Hamm and more pic.twitter.com/nefig7fruE
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- City of Newark (@CityofNewarkNJ) June 16, 2021
Mayor Ras Baraka said he hopes the 317-kilo bronze statue of artist Stanley Watts will inspire the people who see it to "be actively involved in the things, the struggles that are happening here in Newark and here in New Jersey."
"George Floyd represents much more than himself," Baraka said before the presentation.
"All the activity that took place in this country, around the world, due to the untimely, fierce and cruel death, the murder of George Floyd and all the activism that it provoked, is worth pausing and paying attention."
The statue will remain outside of City Hall for at least a year, reports WABC.
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