What is Juneteenth and when did it become a US federal holiday?
Long a regional holiday in the South, Juneteenth rose in prominence across the country following protests that swept the world in 2020 over the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and other Black Americans.
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Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Biden rides Amtrak to DC office; asks for ice cream; spotted 'talking in the quiet car'
Former President Joe Biden has been making weekly trips via Amtrak to his government-assigned office in Washington, DC, though little is publicly known about the nature of his work there. During one of these trips, an Amtrak passenger expressed frustration to The New York Post, saying, "He was talking in the quiet car!" — a major etiquette breach for regular riders. The 82-year-old, who frequently travelled this route to Delaware throughout his 36-year Senate tenure, seems unfamiliar with current cafe car selections. When he requested ice cream, his preferred treat, but had to settle for a muffin instead. The Acela's "quiet car" is positioned second, after first class, where conductors and passengers strictly maintain silence by hushing violators. Another passenger who observed Biden conversing in the quiet car defended him. "If he's talking, it's because he's constantly approached," the individual explained, noting that whispered conversations are permitted. — BidenActivities (@BidenActivities) Fellow passengers have documented his journeys through photographs, including a May 8 brief conversation with CNN's Dana Bash. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Stunning 2-Bed Senior Houses: Take A Peek Inside! GoSearches | Search Ads Undo Last week, when his Amtrak train halted due to track problems near Baltimore, passengers gathered around the Democrat for photographs. Biden, who abandoned his re-election campaign last year following allies' concerns about his cognitive state, visits DC approximately weekly for meetings, according to the Wall Street Journal's report last month. According to the New York Post, various former Biden White House staff members express curiosity about his activities at his temporary office near DC's Union Station. A person knowledgeable about Biden's schedule indicated he holds meetings with current and former staff, and communicates with Congressional members and Democratic leadership. "He's also been attending events which are sometimes coordinated through the office," the person said. "He was just in Galveston, Texas, to attend a Juneteenth service as a recent example. Separately, he's working on his book and library and foundation phases of post-presidency," the person added.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
Does Trump want to ditch Juneteenth federal holiday in US? His remark causes buzz
President Donald Trump took to social media on Thursday on Juneteenth, a federal holiday, to criticize the number of 'non-working holidays' in the United States. In each of his first four years as President, Trump honoured Juneteenth, even before it became a federal holiday. He even claimed to have made it "very famous". But on Thursday, Trump unleashed one of his traditional holiday rants, threatening to scrap the federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery. 'Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. The workers don't want it either! Soon we'll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The 20 Most Expensive Cars Of All Time Undo ALSO READ: Is Pentagon erasing Juneteenth? A mail from Pete Hegseth's office to staff has raised concerns Government employees are traditionally given the day off on federal holidays while receiving pay. Juneteenth, created to celebrate the freedom of enslaved Black Americans, was designated as a federal holiday in 2021 by former President Biden. Live Events Juneteenth is the oldest regular US celebration of the end of slavery. It commemorates June 19, 1865 – the day that Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, told a group of slaves that the Civil War had ended and they were free - more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. What White House said on Juneteenth? During Thursday's White House press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Trump was unlikely to mark the federal holiday. 'I'm not tracking his signature on a proclamation today,' Leavitt said. 'I know this is a federal holiday — I want to thank all of you for showing up to work. We are certainly here, we're working 24/7 right now.' ALSO READ: Why has Trump dropped Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard from his inner circle to navigate secret Iran action plan? During his first term in 2020, Donald Trump claimed credit for popularizing Juneteenth, stating that 'nobody had ever heard of it' before he brought attention to the holiday. His remarks came amid nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. "Melania and I send our warmest greetings to all those celebrating Juneteenth, a historic day recognizing the end of slavery," he wrote in 2017, extolling Maj Gen Gordon Granger, who announced in Galveston in 1865 that "all slaves were free." In 2018 he evoked Granger again, and praised "the courage and sacrifice of the nearly 200,000 former enslaved and free African Americans who fought for liberty." ALSO READ: Amazon's 30-day deadline to employees amid mass layoff fear: Resign in 60 days or... While Trump promised during his 2020 campaign to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, it was officially recognized in 2021 under President Joe Biden. Since then, Trump has made rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives a key part of his agenda, issuing executive orders aimed at curbing such programs within the federal government. But since returning to office he has moved to purge the federal government of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and sanitize Black history -- or even erase references to it entirely.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
Is Pentagon erasing Juneteenth? A mail from Pete Hegseth's office to staff has raised concerns
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth 's office sent an email to staff requesting a "passive approach" to celebrating Juneteenth. Observed on June 19 each year, Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the US and commemorated to end the slavery in the country, reported Rolling Stone. Hegseth, whose work includes scrubbing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) from the US military, downplayed the holiday, requesting that the Pentagon take a 'passive approach' with its Juneteenth messaging this year. Pete Hegseth on Juneteenth This messaging request for Juneteenth was transmitted by the Pentagon's office of the chief of public affairs. This office said it was not poised to publish web content related to Juneteenth, Rolling Stone reported. A Pentagon official told Rolling Stone that the Defense Department 'may engage celebrations that build camaraderie and esprit de recognition of historical events and notable figures where such recognition informs strategic thinking, reinforces our unity, and promotes meritocracy and accountability.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like At Last, An ED Pill for 87¢ That Actually Works Health Alliance by Friday Plans Learn More Undo ALSO READ: Why has Trump dropped Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard from his inner circle to navigate secret Iran action plan? The mandate comes at a time when Trump's attack on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives (DEI) across the government, including the US military, which Pete Hegseth has enthusiastically executed. Live Events 'The President's guidance (lawful orders) is clear: No more DEI at @DeptofDefense,' Hegseth said in a January post on X. 'The Pentagon will comply, immediately. No exceptions, name-changes, or delays,' Hegseth also wrote. He posted an apparently hand-written note that read 'DOD ≠ DEI.' Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has continued to promote anti-DEI rhetoric, alleging that DEI policies endanger military personnel. He has not provided any evidence to corroborate his claim. During a Senate hearing last week, he said, "DEI is dead. We replaced it with a colur-blind, gender-neutral, merit-based approach and the force is responding incredibly." When asked by Rolling Stone, the Pentagon said that the Department of Defense "may engage in the following activities, subject to applicable department guidance: holiday celebrations that build camaraderie and espirit de corps; outreach events (eg, recruiting engagements with all-male, all-female, or minority-serving academic institutions) where doing so directly supports DoD's mission; and recoginition of historical events and notable figures where such recogintion informs strategic thinking, reinforces our unity, and promotes meritocracy and accountability." ALSO READ: Amazon's 30-day deadline to employees amid mass layoff fear: Resign in 60 days or... Asked for comment by the Guardian, a defense spokesperson said: 'We have nothing additional to provide on this.' No DEI programs at Pentagon Shortly after he was confirmed as Defense Secretary, Hegseth said there would be "no more" DEI programs at the Pentagon. This was followed by President Donald Trump's executive order ending DEI programs across the government. The Pentagon went on to cancel a slew of historical and cultural annual events, including observances of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Pride Month, Holocaust Days of Remembrance, National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Women's History Month. The Defense Department also marked thousands of files for deletion in a purge of so-called DEI content, the Associated Press reported in March. In late April, Hegseth declared that he had 'proudly ENDED' the Pentagon's Women, Peace, and Security program. The initiative was originally established under the Women, Peace, and Security Act, which Trump signed into law during his first term. The legislation aimed to ensure that the U.S. supported the meaningful inclusion of women in efforts to prevent, manage, and resolve violent conflicts through mediation and negotiation. ALSO READ: Trump vs Tulsi Gabbard: Is US President planning to fire US spy chief over provocative anti-war video? Trump signed an executive order in January that eliminated DEI in the military. He also appeared to sound off on DEI initiatives in an address to graduating West Point cadets on 24 May. 'They subjected the armed forces to all manner of social projects and political causes, while leaving our borders undefended and depleting our arsenals to fight other countries' wars. We fought for other countries' borders but we didn't fight for our own borders, but now we do like we have never fought before,' Trump said. He also stated 'the job of the US armed forces is not to host drag shows or transform foreign cultures', an apparent allusion to drag shows on US military installations.
