United States: Commemoration of the end of slavery becomes a public holiday

“Juneteenth” meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2020. Getty Images via AFP - ETHAN MILLER

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In the United States, the commemoration of the end of slavery becomes a federally recognized holiday.

The text was approved by elected Democrats and Republicans in Congress in a bi-partisan vote.

The text had been proposed jointly by two members of the two parties.

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With our correspondent in New York,

Loubna Anaki

All that's missing now is Joe Biden's signature to officially register June 19 as a public holiday on the United States federal calendar.

June 19 or “Juneteenth” effectively marks the emancipation of the very last slaves in the country in 1865, two and a half years after the abolition of slavery by Abraham Lincoln.

At the time, the country was in the midst of the Civil War, so news of the end of slavery took two and a half years to arrive in the southern states, and in particular in Texas, where the last slaves were.

A rather rare bi-partisan union

Moreover, it was two elected officials from this state, Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee and Republican John Cornyn, who introduced the text to make “Juneteenth” a federal holiday.

A rather rare bi-partisan union.

Especially since last year, it was blocked by a Republican senator.

Multiplication of calls to vote

Since the death of Georges Floyd, calls for a vote on this legislation have multiplied.

Until now, “Juneteenth” was only celebrated in some states, at the local level.

Often the occasion for black communities to commemorate their history through parades, concerts, shows, and family picnics.

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Read also: Before Trump's meeting, African-Americans in Tulsa celebrate the abolition of slavery

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  • United States

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