Juneteenth

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Journalist Traces His Family's Freedom Fight Across Centuries

AP reporter Darren Sands honors ancestor who fought for Union during Civil War

(Newser) - Growing up in Roslyn, New York, Darren Sands found holes in his family history. As a journalist, he sought to fill them and uncovered a remarkable story of bravery that played out over a century before his time, less than 10 miles from where he grew up. In 2021, while...

15 Shot at Weekend Parties in Texas, Massachusetts

2 people are killed at Juneteenth celebration

(Newser) - Seven people were shot and wounded, and an eighth was hurt while running away when gunfire erupted at a large gathering of young people at a pop-up party in Methuen, Massachusetts, authorities said Sunday. In Round Rock, Texas, two people were killed and six wounded, including two children, late Saturday...

Juneteenth Pioneer Is Missing From Grave

Family sues after Sidney Cooper's grave at San Diego cemetery is found empty

(Newser) - The family of the man who started Juneteenth celebrations in San Diego says they've been visiting an empty grave for 22 years. Sidney Cooper's body and casket are missing from his plot at Greenwood Memorial Park and Mortuary, something his family learned in March when the cemetery opened...

Juneteenth Is in Full Swing. Do You Know What It Means?

An AP primer on the federal holiday's roots, meaning, and evolution

(Newser) - Many Americans are celebrating Juneteenth, marking the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free. For generations, Black Americans have recognized the end of one of the darkest chapters in US history with joy, in the form of parades, street festivals, musical...

20 Shot at Juneteenth Event as Panicked Crowd Scatters

One victim dies in gunfire at Illinois strip mall

(Newser) - Gunfire broke out at a large gathering marking Juneteenth in suburban Chicago, leaving at least 20 people wounded in a strip mall parking lot. One of them died, ABC News reports, and at least two others were hospitalized in critical condition. The DuPage County Sheriff's Office said the violence...

Business Closes for Juneteenth, With a Racist Message

Maine insurance agency is taking heat for sign referencing a well-worn stereotype

(Newser) - Many US businesses shuttered on Monday to mark the federal holiday Juneteenth, but one company in Maine is now taking heat for the way it chose to announce its closing. CNBC notes the import of the holiday, which commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union Army soldiers showed up in Texas...

Juneteenth Events Stress Music, Learning, Healing

Education is needed so people 'never let it happen again,' says activist Opal Lee, 95

(Newser) - After Opal Lee led hundreds in a walk through her Texas hometown to celebrate Juneteenth, the 95-year-old Black woman who helped successfully push for the holiday to receive national recognition said it's important that people learn the history behind it. "We need to know so people can heal...

Most States Have Not Made Juneteenth a Paid Holiday

Commemoration of a delayed event has moved slowly, advocates say

(Newser) - It took more than 100 years for Juneteenth to become a federal holiday. President Biden took care of that a year ago , but there should be more to that recognition, advocates say. Just 18 states have provided funding for the day to be observed as a paid holiday, the New ...

Dish on Museum's Juneteenth Menu Sparks Backlash

Locals say menu item at Children's Museum of Indianapolis perpetuates racist trope

(Newser) - A kids museum in Indiana is at the center of controversy after a menu item for Juneteenth didn't go over so well. The Indianapolis Star reports that included among the food options at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis was a prepackaged watermelon salad ( TMZ has a pic),...

Walmart's New Ice Cream Isn't Going Over as Planned

Juneteenth-themed treat has spurred a backlash

(Newser) - Last year's celebration of Juneteenth , its debut as a federal holiday, was marked by parades , concerts, artwork, and more solemn commemorations of the ending of slavery in America. Walmart's contribution ahead of June 19 this year isn't going over quite as well. In fact, TMZ deems the...

Ikea Employees Outraged by Juneteenth Menu

Fried chicken, watermelon among items selected to honor Black Americans

(Newser) - An Ikea store in Atlanta is apologizing after offering a lunch menu of fried chicken, watermelon, macaroni and cheese, and collard greens to honor "the perseverance of Black Americans." Employees spoke out, claiming the menu was created without input from Black employees was sent to workers, and that...

Nationwide Events Mark Juneteenth
Nationwide Events Mark
Juneteenth
photos
Jun 19, 2021 5:10 PM CDT

Nationwide Events Mark Juneteenth

Commemorations include joyful parades, solemn artwork

(Newser) - There were solemn moments during Juneteenth observances Saturday, as crowds across the country marked the holiday for first year it's had federal recognition . Terrence Floyd unveiled a statue of his brother George in Brooklyn, USA Today reports, telling the crowd, "My brother was the sacrifice, so I need...

Federal Employees Getting a Long Weekend, Quickly

Designation of Juneteenth means most federal workers are off this Friday

(Newser) - The designation of Juneteenth as a federal holiday commemorates a monumental moment in US history, but it also translates into something tangible almost immediately for federal employees—a day off on Friday. Because June 19 falls on a Saturday this year, most federal workers will get Friday off instead, reports...

Bill to Make Juneteenth Federal Holiday Passes House
US Has a New Federal Holiday
Jun 17, 2021 6:50 AM CDT

US Has a New Federal Holiday

Bill to make Juneteenth a holiday passes House; 14 Republicans voted against it

(Newser) - The United States will soon have a new federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery. The House voted 415-14 on Wednesday to make Juneteenth, or June 19th, the 12th federal holiday, the AP reports. The bill now goes to President Biden’s desk, and he is expected to sign it...

Senate Passes Bill to Create 12th Federal Holiday

Juneteenth bill passed under unanimous consent agreement

(Newser) - The Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would make Juneteenth, or June 19th, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The bill would lead to Juneteenth becoming the 12th federal holiday. It is expected to easily pass the House, which would send it to President...

GOP Debates Scrapping Holiday to Make Room for Juneteenth

Columbus Day is the most likely candidate

(Newser) - Republican senators are open to the idea of making Juneteenth a federal holiday—but some of them want to scrap another holiday to make space for it. An internal GOP debate over eliminating Columbus Day, or potentially another holiday, has held up a bipartisan Juneteenth bill, the Hill reports. June...

Trump Warns 'Agitators' Ahead of Rally

Tulsa imposes a curfew ahead of Saturday event

(Newser) - A curfew is now in place around the Tulsa arena where President Trump plans to hold a Saturday rally. It took effect Thursday night and is intended to keep protesters from gathering around the BOK Center downtown through 6am Sunday, reports the Tulsa World . The rally begins at 7pm Saturday,...

155 Years Ago Came the Message: 'All Slaves Are Free'
The Original Juneteenth
Order Resurfaces
THE RUNDOWN
Jun 19, 2020 10:00 AM CDT

The Original Juneteenth Order Resurfaces

National Archives locates the 1865 document

(Newser) - Today is Juneteenth, and this year marks 155 years to the day since 2,000 Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, bringing news that slavery had been abolished some two years earlier. There hadn't been enough Union troops in Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation before that point, according...

Trump: Nobody Heard of Juneteenth Before Me

Says he made holiday 'very famous'

(Newser) - President Trump sat down for a wide-ranging interview with the Wall Street Journal , covering everything from systemic racism and Juneteenth to John Bolton and the coronavirus. Some highlights:
  • Juneteenth: “I did something good: I made Juneteenth very famous,” Trump said, a reference to his decision to postpone a
...

'Out of Respect,' Trump Moves Date of Campaign Rally

President changes Tulsa event to next Saturday after pushback on original Juneteenth date

(Newser) - President Trump said earlier this week that his next campaign rally, set to be held Friday in Oklahoma, would be "a celebration," but that event has now been moved so it won't conflict with another commemoration. The rally had generated controversy because it was set to occur...

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