Juneteenth 2021 latest – George Floyd memorial unveiled in Brooklyn as federal holiday is celebrated for the first time
PRESIDENT Joe Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery, and a George Floyd memorial was unveiled in Brooklyn to mark the occasion.
The statue, created to honor the black man whose murder by a white cop in Minneapolis last May led to nationwide calls for racial justice, was unveiled Saturday morning in New York City.
The House voted 415-14 on Wednesday to make Juneteenth the 12th federal holiday, and President Biden signed the bill into law on Thursday.
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.
Despite the overwhelming support, some Republicans have criticized it, comparing it to critical race theory.
Read our Juneteenth live blog for all the latest news and updates...
WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT URGES AMERICANS TO FEEL 'POWER OF THIS DAY'
The White House released a statement on Saturday urging all Americans to "feel the power" of Juneteenth and "learn from our history."
The statement also noted the "distance we still have to travel."
STACEY ABRAMS: 'THE MARCH TOWARDS FREEDOM CONTINUES'
Stacey Abrams took to Twitter to celebrate Juneteenth and to remind Americans that there is still work to be done.
"From the ballot box to housing, employment, & more — we must continue working for equal justice," the former Georgia representative wrote.
CROWD CHANTS 'WE ARE FLOYD' AS GEORGE FLOYD STATUE UNVEILED IN BROOKLYN
A six-foot-tall bust of George Floyd was unveiled in Flatbush as part of Juneteenth celebrations across New York City.
On hand for the unveiling were Floyd's brother, Terrence, and rapper Papoose, who painted a message on the base of the statue.
"George Floyd was hunted, knees were used to prey," the rapper wrote. "In life we should only use knees to pray."
WHICH STATES ALREADY RECOGNIZED JUNETEENTH?
Before President Biden signed a law officially making Juneteenth a federal holiday, at least nine states had already made it into a paid state holiday.
Those states were Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
All but Texas, where the events of the original Juneteenth took place in 1865, made the day a holiday after the killing of George Floyd last spring led to widespread calls for social justice.
WHAT DID JOE BIDEN SAY ABOUT JUNETEENTH?
When President Biden signed a bill declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday, he said that "great nations don't ignore their most painful moments."
"Great nations don't walk away," he added.
"We come to terms with the mistakes we made ... and remembering those moments, we begin to heal and grow stronger."
ATLANTA MARCHES TO COMMEMORATE JUNETEENTH
As Juneteenth celebrations got underway across the US on Saturday, people marched in Atlanta from the iconic Ebenezer Baptist Church.
The historic church was used by Martin Luther King Jr to host demonstrations for social and economic justice, equality and voting rights.
Atlanta and the surrounding areas have been celebrating Juneteenth for years, long before Joe Biden declared it a federal holiday this year.
GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY IN BROOKLYN FOR UNVEILING OF STATUE
George Floyd's brother, Terrence, attended the unveiling of a six-foot statue in his brother's likeness in Flatbush, Brooklyn on Saturday.
Crowds of people came out for the unveiling, held in honor of Juneteenth.
The statue will stay in Brooklyn's Flatbush Junction for about three weeks before moving to Union Square in Manhattan.
SMITHSONIAN PROVIDES JUNETEENTH EXPLAINER
Even as President Joe Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday, many do not know the history of why June 19 is celebrated as the day slavery in the US ended.
The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture provided an explainer to commemorate the new holiday.
WHY DID TRUMP TAKE CREDIT FOR MAKING JUNETEENTH FAMOUS?
Journalist Michael Bender claims in a new book that Donald Trump said no one had heard of Juneteenth before his campaign accidentally scheduled a rally on the date, causing quite a scandal in 2020.
Trump's former campaign manager Brad Parscale apparently did not know the history of Juneteeth when he scheduled a rally in Tulsa for June 19, 2020. After much backlash, the rally was moved to the next day.
Trump reportedly claimed in a 2020 interview with Bender that "nobody had heard of it" before the drama surrounding his rally.
"I made Juneteenth very famous," the former president said.
JUNETEENTH BILL PASSES AS SOME STATES FORBID SCHOOLS FROM TEACHING CRITICAL RACE THEORY
The Juneteenth bill was signed into law by President Joe Biden even as states are banning schools from teaching about critical race theory.
Critical race theory, as defined by Britannica, is an “intellectual movement” of Civil Rights scholars who critically examine the law as it intersects with issues of race. It is mostly taught in higher academic learning.
However, a school board in the wealthy suburb of South Lake, Texas, recently won an election to stop “critical race theory” and a new “cultural competence action plan” from being forced into classes.
Last week, Florida’s Board of Education banned educators from teaching critical race theory.
WHICH STATES ALREADY CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH?
Celebrations to commemorate the end of slavery take place across the country with parades and festivals marking the emancipation of enslaved Black people in several different states.
Juneteenth is already celebrated as a state or ceremonial holiday in 47 states and in Washington, DC.
However, Texas, New York, Virginia, and Washington are the four states where state employees get it off as a paid holiday.
JUNETEENTH IS BECOMING MORE POPULAR
According to Juneteenth.com, the holiday is becoming more popular.
"Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long overdue," the site said.
"In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities, and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today."
"Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society."
WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?
According to Juneteenth.com, Juneteenth "commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement"
"It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics, and family gatherings," the site reported.
"It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement, and for planning the future."
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS CELEBRATES JUNETEENTH BILL SIGNING
The Congressional Black Caucus celebrated the House signing the Juneteenth bill by singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre shared the moment on Twitter.
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR MARKEY PUSHES FOR MORE PROGRESS
Senator Ed Markey applauded the Juneteenth bill while calling for more social progress in a tweet.
"Juneteenth, yes. And voting rights. And police accountability. And clean air and water. And economic equality. And reparations," Markey tweeted.
"We celebrate this federal holiday and recommit to full Black liberation," the Democratic Senator from Massachusetts said.
WHICH STATES DO NOT CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH?
Hawaii, North Dakota, and South Dakota, each have not yet established the day as a holiday.
Hawaii is close to becoming the 49th state to recognize the day as lawmakers passed legislation in April of 2021 that would commemorate June 19 as Juneteenth.
The bill, which still needs to be signed by Governor David Ige, would not make Juneteenth a state holiday.
BIDEN SAYS WE SHOULD COME TO TERMS WITH THE 'DARK SIDE' OF AMERICA
President Joe Biden has said America must face the "cost" of its race crimes and has vowed to "build black wealth" as he marked the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
He addressed how the history of the massacre had not been taught in schools and had been "erased from our memories" for almost a century.
"We do ourselves no favors pretending it didn't happen," he said.
"We should know the good, the bad, the everything, because that's what great nations do, they come to terms with their dark sides."
BIDEN SAYS US MUST FACE 'COST' OF ITS RACE CRIMES
President Joe Biden has said America must face the "cost" of its race crimes and has vowed to "build black wealth" as he marked the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
The president blasted the attack by a white mob on the black Greenwood community in 1921 as "not a riot, but a massacre" and revealed his administration's plan to address the racial wealth gap in the US.
Biden called the Tulsa attack a "stain on the soul of America" and compared it to both the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally in 2017 and the riot on the US Capitol on January 6.
JUNETEENTH WILL BE 12TH FEDERAL HOLIDAY FOR US
Federal employees in the United States will receive a paid day off on June 19, or on the nearest Friday or Monday to commemorate the Emancipation Proclamation.
Texas first made Juneteenth a state holiday in 1980, and “every state but South Dakota came to officially commemorate Juneteenth” in the decades following, according to CNN.
It will become the 12th federal holiday in America.
REP CORI BUSH CALLS FOR REPARATIONS FOR BLACK PEOPLE
Rep Cori Bush has called for reparations for black people after Juneteenth became a federal holiday.
The Missouri Congresswoman tweeted on Wednesday: "It’s Juneteenth AND reparations. It’s Juneteenth AND end police violence + the War on Drugs."
She added: "It’s Juneteenth AND end housing + education apartheid. It’s Juneteenth AND teach the truth about white supremacy in our country.
"Black liberation in its totality must be prioritized."
BIDEN'S SECRETARY OF STATE BLINKEN SHARES STATEMENT ON JUNETEENTH
President Joe Biden's Secretary of State Antony Blinken shared a statement on Friday about Juneteenth.
"Juneteenth marks an important date in US history that reminds us of our obligation to pursue racial justice and equity," Blinken said.
"This day has come not only to mark the effective end of chattel slavery, but the reality that freedom and justice have been delayed for far too many," he added.
REPUBLICAN REP NORMAN COMPLAINS ABOUT JUNETEENTH
South Carolina Republican Rep. Ralph Norman defended his vote against the bill that made Juneteenth a federal holiday.
"How many holidays do we want? What's the magic number? This would put it to 11. Do we want 20?" Norman said on Fox.
"Are we going to do one for the Native American Indians? I mean where does it stop?" he added.
"This was such an easy no vote."
DOES JUNETEENTH HAVE OTHER NAMES?
Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States, because on June 19, 1865 slaves in Texas were told they would be freed.
It is also known as Emancipation Day and Freedom Day.
Juneteenth is a portmanteau of June and 19.
According to Juneteenth.com the day "commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement"
ELIZABETH WARREN TWEETS ABOUT JUNETEENTH: 'WE HAVE MORE TO DO'
Sen Elizabeth Warren tweeted about Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday on June 18.
"I’m happy that Congress passed a bill to honor #Juneteenth as a federal holiday, but we have more to do," she wrote.
"Congress still needs to address the long legacy of systemic racism in health care, housing, education, banking, policing, voting, and every aspect of our economy and society."