New Jersey
Juneteenth becomes an official holiday in New Jersey
Juneteenth, an annual commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, is now an official holiday in New Jersey.

Juneteenth, an annual commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.A., is now an official holiday in New Jersey.
Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill that says the state will celebrate the day every year on the third Friday in June.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is a celebration in remembrance of June 19, 1865, when Black slaves in Galveston, Texas, were officially told that they were free.
The day came nearly six months after Congress passed the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery.
Juneteenth New Jersey Holiday
“Commemorating this date is just one component of our collective approach to end a generational cycle of pain and injustice that has gone on for far too long,” Murphy said in a press statement.
“Every Juneteenth, we will celebrate the end of the physical chains which once held #Black Americans down.”
“While more work lies ahead to undo the oppression that remains, Juneteenth is [an] important marker that reminds us of our mission to create a society that enables our Black communities to achieve the full equality which they deserve.”
The signing
Murphy tweeted a video of him signing the Junteenth bill on Thursday, in which he’s accompanied by singer SZA, who was raised in New Jersey. New Jersey legislators had passed the bill in July.

Gov Murphy and SZA
“I am a direct descendent of slavery,” SZA said during the signing.
“My direct descendants, my great grandmother, my great-great grandmother, that’s my family. So I feel like it’s not even like a past stain, it’s a current reality that we are living through — the post-traumatic slave syndrome and the PTSD and the effects of that currently right now.”
Discover more from Unheard Voices Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
-
In Memoriam2 days ago
Beloved Mississippi news anchor Celeste Wilson dies suddenly at 42
-
Crime & Justice2 weeks ago
Alabama mother sues state workers after 3-year-old son dies in scorching hot car
-
Police4 days ago
Mississippi mother demands justice after teen son fatally struck by a police cruiser
-
Community2 weeks ago
New Jersey mourns Esiyah Dixon-Waheed, pageant queen, HBCU alumna, killed in Missouri drunk-driving crash
-
Crime & Justice2 weeks ago
Virginia man sentenced to life for murder of New Jersey councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour
-
Social Justice3 days ago
South Carolina man shot in alleged hate crime speaks out and pushes for change
-
Community2 weeks ago
Burger King employee who went viral for running restaurant alone for 12 hours says she was fired; GoFundMe launched
-
Community5 days ago
GoFundMe for Georgia officer David Rose surpasses $590K as community honors his legacy