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End of slavery: US Congress makes »Juneteenth« a federal holiday

2021-06-20T12:09:12.963Z


The debate over the crimes of slavery has regained momentum in the United States. Now Congress wants to make “Juneteenth” a federal holiday, and Democrats and Republicans are amazingly in agreement on this.


Enlarge image

At the »Juneteenth« 2020 a demonstrator walks through Washington

Photo: Michael A. McCoy / Getty Images

The »Juneteenth« is a day of remembrance to commemorate the end of slavery.

In most of the 50 US states, the day - June 19 - is already officially celebrated.

Now it is supposed to be a federal holiday.

The US Congress voted for the corresponding law with a large majority of 415 against 14 votes.

The Senate - the other Congress Chamber - had already unanimously passed the project on Tuesday.

The introduction of the new holiday was decided jointly by the Democrats and opposition Republicans with a rare bipartisan unity.

The only thing missing now is President Joe Biden's signature.

Juneteenth would be the twelfth public holiday under US federal law - and the first new holiday of its kind in 38 years.

"Juneteenth" is a combination of the English words for June and 19. It refers to an important date in the US Civil War: On June 19, 1865, Gordon Granger, General of the Army of the North, announced the release of all slaves in Galveston, Texas .

Two months earlier, the southern troops fighting to keep slavery surrendered in the civil war.

The debate on the crimes of slavery has become more explosive since last year in the wake of the protests against police violence and racism.

In 2020, the holiday was dominated by national protests.

As a result of the killing of the African American George Floyd by the white police officer Derek Chauvin, demonstrations, joint prayers and celebrations took place from New York to Los Angeles.

lukewarm / dpa

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2021-06-20

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