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Juneteenth – New holiday for US

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The United States has a new holiday.

Two weeks ago, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. This establishes a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the US.

It is the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr Day was established in 1983.

What is the origin of Juneteenth?

On 19 June 1865 – months after the American civil war all slaves were told they were free.

The day became known as Juneteenth, a word created by joining the words “June” and “nineteenth” together.

Already 49 states and Washington DC formally recognise Juneteenth as a state or ceremonial holiday. South Dakota is the last remaining state.

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