Juneteenth is on it's way to becoming a Federal Holiday

[BiggWebb79]

The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation to make Juneteenth, which celebrates the emancipation of formerly enslaved African Americans, a federal holiday.

The bill — whose passage comes just days ahead of Juneteenth celebrated on June 19 — still needs to pass the House. But it's a major step forward after a similar resolution has been blocked in recent years by Republican senators.

"Happy that my bill to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday just passed the Senate. It has been a state holiday in Texas for more than 40 years. Now more than ever, we need to learn from our history and continue to form a more perfect union," Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the lead GOP sponsor, tweeted after the Senate's action.

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who sponsored the bill, was presiding over the chamber when Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) successfully got it passed.

While Juneteenth commemorates the abolishment of slavery, the date isn't a reference to the end of legal slavery in the United States, but to the time when enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who was viewed as the key hold out, announced earlier Tuesday that he had dropped his objection to passing the bill, clearing its path in the Senate.

“While it still seems strange that having taxpayers provide federal employees paid time off is now required to celebrate the end of slavery, it is clear that there is no appetite in Congress to further discuss the matter. Therefore, I do not intend to object," Johnson said in a statement.

Johnson had previously objected to the resolution last year, arguing that it gave federal workers another paid day off. Johnson had floated swapping Juneteenth with Columbus Day on the federal government's list of holidays.

A poll released by Gallup on Tuesday found that more Americans were in favor of making Juneteenth a national holiday than not.

According to the poll, nearly 35 percent of Americans believe that Juneteenth should become a federal holiday while only about 25 percent are against it. Forty percent of Americans are undecided on the matter.

Senate passes bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday

 

[Sbp]

Do I get a paid day off

 

[Akata Man Bromo]

ADOS rising

 

[Armchair Militant]

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

Unless it’s a paid holiday.....

 

[Cadillac]

good,

 

[BaltimoreTwilightMarauder]

So what exactly does this do? Is this the tangibles we're getting?

 

[Spence]

My Daughter gets her bday paid every year for the rest of her working life (if work is even a thing still in 17 years).

 

[WakandanPride]

Dont give af. Where are the reparations and tangibles for the community? All this symbolic shyt means nothing without actual change.

 

[skylove4]

Great

 

[patscorpio]

Do I get a paid day off

I already do at my job

 

[skylove4]

Dont give af. Where are reparations and tangibles for the community. All this symbolic shyt means nothing without actual change.

How does making Juneteenth a national holiday take anything away from the fight for reparations or “tangibles”

most people don’t even know the meaning of Juneteenth so this makes our struggle more known to other black people who can wake up and fight for reparations . How can you spin this as bad

 

[Coco Loco]

It's about damn time! It better pass the House

 

[Premeditated]

yay for symbolism

 

[Yapdatfool]

I already do at my job

Starts this year for my job

Disclaimer: I work for a school, 10 month teachers don't get paid for it