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News18
18 hours ago
- General
- News18
What Is Juneteenth And Why Is Donald Trump Not Celebrating It This Year?
Last Updated: Juneteenth is a day that marks the end of slavery in the United States. While the United States observes Juneteenth 2025 on June 19, President Donald Trump has maintained an indifferent silence on the federal holiday this year. Trump, who honoured the day every year in his previous term as President, in fact said the US has 'too many working holidays, costing the country billions of dollars" even as he didn't mention Juneteenth in his post directly. Juneteenth is a day that marks the end of slavery in the United States. The day is observed with parades, educational events, community gatherings, and moments of remembrance across the US. What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is observed on June 19 every year. The day marks the end of slavery in the United States. The name is a combination of 'June" and 'nineteenth." On this day in 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people were free, in line with President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued over two years earlier, on January 1, 1863. Texas was one of the last Confederate states where slavery remained in practice, as Union forces had not yet taken control. When Granger issued General Order No. 3, it finally brought the message of freedom to more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas. This moment came to symbolise the final end of slavery, even though it would take the 13th Amendment, passed later that year, to abolish slavery nationwide. Over time, Juneteenth grew from local celebrations in Texas to a nationwide event. It is observed with cultural events, music, food, and historical reflections. In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday, underscoring its importance as a day of freedom, remembrance, and a continued call for equality and justice. How Did Juneteenth Become A Federal Holiday? Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, but the journey to the day's national recognition was long and hard-fought. For decades, African American communities across the US celebrated Juneteenth locally, especially in Texas where it was first officially recognised as a state holiday in 1980. However, efforts to make it a national holiday gained momentum following the racial justice protests of 2020 after the killing of George Floyd. Activists, lawmakers, and community leaders renewed calls for federal recognition, highlighting the importance of honouring the end of slavery as a key moment in American history. One prominent voice in the movement was Opal Lee, a lifelong activist from Texas, who, walked from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C. at 89, to campaign for Juneteenth's recognition. Her dedication and the growing national awareness around systemic racism helped push Congress to act. In June 2021, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act passed swiftly with overwhelming bipartisan support, and President Joe Biden signed it into law on June 17, 2021. The move marked a historic step in acknowledging the legacy of slavery and the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America. Why Is Trump Not Celebrating Juneteenth This Year? This year, Trump did not issue any public statement or proclamation marking Juneteenth, a shift from his first term, when he routinely acknowledged the holiday. He, in fact, criticised 'too many non-working holidays" on his social media website Truth Social. 'Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed,"" Trump wrote. '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," the US President added. 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…— Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) June 19, 2025 In January 2025, Trump had also signed an executive order dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across federal agencies. This was interpreted as a move to scale back observance planning for cultural and remembrance days like Juneteenth. First Published: News explainers What Is Juneteenth And Why Is Donald Trump Not Celebrating It This Year?
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio lawmakers are trying once again to remove slavery from state's constitution
Juneteenth flag. (Getty images) Ohio Democratic lawmakers want to eradicate slavery from the Ohio Constitution. State Reps. Dontavius Jarrells, D-Columbus, and Veronica Sims, D-Akron, are working on a joint resolution that would remove slavery from the state's foundational document. 'This isn't political,' Jarrells said Wednesday during an Ohio Legislative Black Caucus press conference. 'This isn't personal. This is a moral overdue journey to change our constitution once and for all. Other states have already done it. We simply want Ohio to live up to this promise of freedom.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for being convicted of a crime. The Ohio Constitution currently says 'There shall be no slavery in this state; nor involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crime.' Seven states have removed the slavery loophole from their constitution — Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska, according to the Abolish Slavery National Network. 'I submit that slavery and or involuntary servitude in any shape, form or fashion, should be disembodied from the sacred pages of the founding document of our great state,' Sims said. 'It is time to remove any exception under any circumstances, slavery is a vile, despicable imposition upon another human being.' This is not the first time there have been legislative attempts in Ohio to remove slavery from the state's constitution. Jarrells had a bipartisan joint resolution that was unable to get out of committee during the last General Assembly. A Senate Joint Resolution was also unsuccessful back in 2020. If the House and Senate pass the new joint resolution, it would go to the statewide ballot for the voters to decide. Wednesday's press conference was hosted by members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus in honor of Juneteenth, a federal holiday Thursday remembering the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865 — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. 'Juneteenth signifies the end of slavery, and it's a time to celebrate,' said State Rep. Terrence Upchurch, D-Cleveland. 'Although we are proud of the progress we have made, that does not negate the fact that there are still several challenges Black Ohioans face across the state. People are still struggling with finding housing, healthy foods, good paying jobs, satisfactory education, fair treatment in the justice system, and so much more.' Jarrells introduced House Bill 306 last month, also known as the Enact the Hate Crime Act. 'It empowers victims with real civil remedies and gives law enforcement clear, enforceable tools to hold perpetrators accountable,' he said. 'This bill says that every single person in this state deserves to live without fear, and if you are targeted for who you are, this state will stand with you.' State Rep. Darnell T. Brewer, D-Cleveland, talked about recent gun legislation he is working on. 'Gun violence is devastating our communities,' he said. 'We can no longer afford to be silent or inactive.' Black youth are 11 times more likely to die from firearm homicide than their white peers, according to Brady: United Against Gun Violence. Brewer said he plans on introducing a resolution to encourage responsible gun ownership by promoting safe storage practices to prevent children from accessing guns and a resolution on safe firearm storage education. 'Gun violence is not just an emergency,' he said. 'It's a daily reality.' Infant mortality, when a child dies before their first birthday, is higher for Black babies compared to white babies. The national infant mortality rate is 5.5 per 1,000 live births for babies and 10.9 for Black babies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The infant mortality rate for Ohio Black babies in 2022 was 13.4 per 1,000 live births. 'Why do we stop caring about babies after they're born?' State Rep. Derrick Hall, D-Akron, asked. State Rep. Ismail Mohamed, D-Columbus, talked about House Bill 281, a bill that would withhold Medicaid funding from hospitals that do not cooperate with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. State Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Twp., introduced the bill last month. 'What this bill does is essentially force medical providers to choose between honoring your oath as medical providers or complying with the state's political agenda,' Mohamed said. 'It will discourage immigrant communities from seeking life saving treatment care out of fear.' Mohamed also talked about House Bill 1, a piece of legislation that would place restrictions on foreign ownership of land. State Reps. Angie King, R-Celina, and Roy Klopfenstein, R-Haviland, introduced the bill earlier this year. 'It is arbitrary,' Mohamed said. 'It is discriminatory in its face, and will negatively impact economic development in the state of Ohio.' Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
ACLU: After 160 Years of Waiting, Guaranteed Income Can Deliver on the Promise of Reparations
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. This year we celebrate the 160th anniversary of the message of freedom finally reaching the last parts of the former Confederacy. For two years, news of the Emancipation Proclamation was kept from enslaved people across the South, until Major General Gordon Granger made the long-overdue final enforcement of the decree in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. While many see Juneteenth as an opportunity to celebrate freedom, the truth is that slavery still exists today, in prisons around the country, due to the loophole in the 13th Amendment that permits enslavement as punishment for a crime. Small blue and red Juneteenth flag with a star and the date June 19, 1865, waving in the wind at a street vendor's stall in front of shops on 125th Street in Harlem, New York... Small blue and red Juneteenth flag with a star and the date June 19, 1865, waving in the wind at a street vendor's stall in front of shops on 125th Street in Harlem, New York else is the transformation of slavery to mass incarceration than in Louisiana. Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola, sits on a former plantation. Incarcerated workers continue to work the fields, like enslaved people once did, for only two cents an hour. This food finds its way to consumers: if you've had a Big Mac or shopped at Walmart, you may have purchased produce harvested through Angola's captive labor force. The broken promise of "40 Acres and a Mule" demonstrates that reparations were never delivered to the formerly enslaved. Over one and a half centuries later, the descendants of freed enslaved people are still waiting. As they wait, they are continually subjugated by a system that traps them in a cycle of poverty, criminalization, and forced labor. Today, we have the opportunity to fully realize the promise of freedom symbolized by Juneteenth through guaranteed income programs—a bold step toward fair compensation in reparation efforts to those still suffering from the legacy of slavery. These programs aren't charity, but a chance to finally honor a commitment that should have been fulfilled generations ago. Guaranteed Income and Reparations Guaranteed income is a simple but powerful concept: unconditional, direct, and continuous cash payments delivered to residents. Disbursed without work requirements or restrictive conditions, guaranteed income operates as an investment in the agency of individuals. It has bipartisan and broad support: Americans of all political parties—Democrats, Republicans, and independents—approve of guaranteed income as a tool to eliminate poverty. Guaranteed income programs have gained significant traction in the United States, with 165 pilots as of 2025. These programs vary in scope, duration, and funding sources, but generally seek to provide financial stability and reduce poverty for targeted populations. Major pilot programs have been successful in places like Compton, Calif., Chicago, Ill., Gainesville, Fla., and elsewhere. Today, incorporating guaranteed income into reparations efforts is bolstered by a body of evidence supporting guaranteed income's unique ability to narrow the persistent racial wealth gap. Guaranteed income also leads to greater gender equity and long-term welfare by helping people afford job training, education, or childcare. The ACLU of Louisiana, in partnership with the Fund for Guaranteed Income and donors Buck and Gracie Close, implemented a guaranteed income pilot program as a form of reparations. This pilot was the first of its kind funded through voluntary reparations, in which oppressors' descendants choose to actively redistribute their wealth and power to the oppressed. The pilot transferred funds from the Close family—whose wealth was built from slavery—to recipients who suffer from the legacy of slavery through their involvement with the criminal legal system. This pilot was targeted at specific parishes within Louisiana known for their high rates of police misconduct, as the state itself is one of the highest incarcerators in the country. Program participants were all survivors of police brutality. After participating in the pilot, the participants' ability to pay all of their bills doubled. The ability to meet their medical needs—including prescriptions, refills, and doctors' visits—increased fourfold. By the end of the program, the average number of days without stable housing fell by 85 percent. Expanding Guaranteed Income Programs We should take these successes and push a broader conversation about the importance of repairing past harms through direct economic benefits. If we do nothing, incarceration will only increase, especially as we criminalize immigration, and the harms will further perpetuate. Guaranteed income offers an alternative that makes everyone safe by giving them a rightful share of the nation's collectively produced and inherited wealth. Like the last enslaved souls who waited far too long to hear the news of freedom, we too have been waiting—for justice, for reparations, for the truth of slavery's enduring legacy to be fully acknowledged. We are still waiting for the promise to be kept, for the next generation to finally have a chance to run a race where the hurdles aren't set impossibly high from the start. It's never too late to address a broken promise. Juneteenth reminds us that freedom and justice go hand in hand. And true justice requires true repair. Alanah Odoms is the executive director of ACLU of Louisiana. Nika Soon-Shiong is the executive director of the Fund For Guaranteed Income. The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Are Banks Open on Juneteenth 2025? List of Holiday Closures
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Juneteenth, occurring annually on June 19, is now a federal holiday, impacting many federal and state offices. It also means your bank is likely to be closed down for the day. The holiday has been commemorated as America's Second Independence Day, and several companies may be updating their hours of operation in honor of the federal holiday. Why It Matters Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Celebrated annually on June 19, it marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in the U.S. were informed of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Months later, in December, slavery was formally abolished via the 13th Amendment. Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday in June 2021. What To Know Because Juneteenth is a federal holiday, many banks will be closed throughout the day. This includes major banking institutions such as: Bank of America Chase Bank Truist PNC Bank Capital One Citibank The New York Stock Exchange also closes for federal holidays and will subsequently be closed on Juneteenth as well. The U.S. Postal Service will also be suspended for the day, with no mail delivered. However, FedEx pickup and delivery services will remain operational, and FedEx offices will operate on a normal schedule. Most retailers and restaurants, however, will remain open on Juneteenth. Those in need of groceries should expect their neighborhood Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Aldi, and Kroger stores to be open as usual. Nearly 30 states also recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday, meaning state workers will also get the day off. Private companies have the discretion to decide whether they will give employees the day off or not. A Citibank branch in Washington, D.C., as seen on May 31, 2025. A Citibank branch in Washington, D.C., as seen on May 31, People Are Saying Truist wrote on its website: "In general, Truist observes the Federal Reserve holiday schedule (some subsidiaries and affiliates observe a different holiday schedule)." The Federal Reserve wrote on its website: "For holidays falling on Saturday, Federal Reserve Banks and Branches will be open the preceding Friday; however, the Board of Governors will be closed. For holidays falling on Sunday, all Federal Reserve offices will be closed the following Monday. See the Federal Reserve Banks Financial Services holiday page for additional details on the operations of the Federal Reserve Banks." What Happens Next The next federal holiday is July 4, Independence Day. Banks will be closed on this day, as well.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Today's NYT Mini Crossword Clues And Answers For Thursday, June 19th
In case you missed Wednesday's NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, you can find the answers here: It's June 19th which is also known as 'Juneteenth' or Emancipation Day, a celebration of the end of the horrific institution of slavery in America. On June 19th, 1865 Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas, just months after the 13th Amendment was proposed in Congress. The amendment was ratified in December of that year. A good day, in other words. It's also the day before my birthday, and the last full day of spring, as the 20th is also the summer solstice. Now let's solve this Mini! The NYT Mini is a smaller, quicker, more digestible, bite-sized version of the larger and more challenging NYT Crossword, and unlike its larger sibling, it's free-to-play without a subscription to The New York Times. You can play it on the web or the app, though you'll need the app to tackle the archive. Across 1A. Electronics upgrade for the living room — starts with the first letter N 6A. Sneeze sound — starts with the first letter A 7A. Common merch offering — starts with the first letter S 8A. Journalism is a noted one in 2025 — starts with the first letter H 9A. The "L" of L.A. — starts with the first letter L Down 1D. Mathematician John for whom an equilibrium is named — starts with the first letter N 2D. Word shouted into a canyon — starts with the first letter E 3D. Spin round and round — starts with the first letter W 4D. Midsection of the body — starts with the first letter T 5D. Decides (on) democratically — starts with the first letter V Across 1A. Electronics upgrade for the living room — NEWTV 6A. Sneeze sound — ACHOO 7A. Common merch offering — SHIRT 8A. Journalism is a noted one in 2025 — HORSE 9A. The "L" of L.A. — LOS Down 1D. Mathematician John for whom an equilibrium is named — NASH 2D. Word shouted into a canyon — ECHO 3D. Spin round and round — WHIRL 4D. Midsection of the body — TORSO 5D. Decides (on) democratically — VOTES Today's Mini Crossword Screenshot: Erik Kain A few of these were tricky. It didn't occur to me, as it so often doesn't, that the electronics upgrade in 1-Across would be two words. I'm still not sure what journalism has to do with the word HORSE. Others helped this all come together, however. VOTES and LOS and ACHOO and so forth. Today's Mini took me 1:22. How did you do? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. If you also play Wordle, I write guides about that as well. You can find those and all my TV guides, reviews and much more here on my blog. Thanks for reading!
