The U.S. House and Senate jointly and unanimously passed legislation marking June 19, otherwise known as Juneteenth, a federal holiday. Juneteenth is an annual holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States.
President Joe Biden signed the bill into law this afternoon.
The first recognized Juneteenth federal holiday will be tomorrow, Friday, June 18, as June 19 falls on a Saturday this year.
President Biden praised the country’s newest holiday as a way to help heal centuries-old divisions and bring about racial justice. “Great nations don’t ignore their most painful moments, they embrace them,” Biden said. “In remembering those moments, we begin to heal and grow stronger.”
Click here for more information on the historic legislation regarding Juneteenth.