Mayor Adams declares Juneteenth a paid NYC holiday

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has designated Juneteenth a paid holiday for city workers to honor the release of Black Americans from slavery in 1865, the mayor announced in a news release Monday.

Adams said as the city’s second Black mayor, he felt it was his duty to recognize slavery as the country’s greatest wrong.

“Juneteenth is a time for reflection, assessment, and self-improvement,” Adams said in a statement. “People across the country of all races, nationalities, and religions unite on this day to truthfully acknowledge the stain of slavery and celebrate the countless contributions of Black Americans. It’s time for our city to finally do what’s right and officially designate Juneteenth as a city holiday.”

Juneteenth, which this year will be observed on Monday, June 20, celebrates the arrival of Union troops in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, two months after the end of the Civil War, to announce to slaves that they were free.

The day has turned into both a celebration of the end of slavery and a call for racial and social justice.

Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in 2020 ordered the day become a paid state holiday following nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck. The officer, Derek Chauvin, was later convicted of murder.

President Joe Biden last year signed legislation declaring the day a paid holiday for federal employees.

By Vera Chinese

vera.chinese@newsday.com@VeraChinese

Vera Chinese joined Newsday in 2017 after working as an editor for the East End lifestyle publication northforker and a general assignment reporter for the New York Daily News.