Juneteenth national holiday is ‘long overdue,’ says regional NAACP leader

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WEST HAVERSTRAW – June 19, 1865, is the date when slavery officially ended in the United States when the word traveled to Galveston, Texas.

June 19, known as Juneteenth, is now a federal holiday, signed into law by President Biden on Thursday. 

Wilbur Aldridge, the regional director of the NAACP, was thrilled with the new federal holiday.

“It certainly kind of solidifies the fact that, yes, the United States recognizes slavery existed and that it was also the Emancipation Proclamation ended it. It is unfortunate that it took over 400 years for it to occur, but it took the time it took, but it did not diminish the importance or the feeling of jubilance because of it,” he said.

Because June 19 this year is Saturday, federal employees got today (Friday) off to mark the first Juneteenth holiday.




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