The designation as a federal holiday made this year's Juneteenth extra special, Sen. Sonya Halpern (D-Atlanta), said. | Sen. Sonya Halpern's Twitter profile
The designation as a federal holiday made this year's Juneteenth extra special, Sen. Sonya Halpern (D-Atlanta), said. | Sen. Sonya Halpern's Twitter profile
President Joe Biden signing a law to make Juneteenth a federal holiday made this year's holiday particularly important, State Sen. Sonya Halpern said.
Juneteenth marks the day the last slaves in Texas were freed in 1865, Halpern said on Twitter. She said that it is considered the longest-running African American holiday.
"Celebrating #FreedomDay with @cityofeastpoint and @NAACP. Great to see so many friends/neighbors and bonus: rode in the parade and was made an honorary member of the Corvette Club! May today’s celebrations guide us toward a brighter, more equitable future for all Americans," Halpern posted on Twitter.
Atlanta celebrated the holiday with the three-day Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival at Centennial Olympic Park on June 18-20, the event's website said.
Halpern said on Twitter that this year's Juneteenth felt "extra special" to her since President Biden designated the holiday a federal holiday at the start of the holiday.
On this Juneteenth she honored her ancestors, the hardships they endured, the hope they kept, and the battles they fought to be free, Halpern Tweeted.
"Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation, and a promise of a brighter morning to come. This is a day of profound — in my view — profound weight and profound power," Biden said, the White House reported.
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