This is amazing! Juneteenth will be recognized as a paid holiday for city employees for the first time this year.
Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement, “It’s time for our city to finally do what’s right and officially designate Juneteenth as a city holiday. This decision is long overdue, which is why it will immediately take effect this year.”
Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19th and it honors the day that slavery ended in 1865. In 2020, it became a federal holiday after a lot of businesses began to recognize the day after the numerous acts of police killing Black Americans across the country.
Mayor Adams, who we reported is currently working remotely after testing positive for COVID-19, also said in a statement, “Juneteenth is a time for reflection, assessment, and self-improvement. People across the country of all races, nationalities, and religions unite on this day to truthfully acknowledge the stain of slavery and celebrate the countless contributions of Black Americans.”