Juneteenth National Independence Day is the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.
, the date commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, as a federal holiday.
Biden, in what he called "one of the greatest honors" of his presidency, signed the bill two days before Juneteenth itself, which is on June 19 each year. "We have come far, and we have far to go. But today is a day of celebration," said Vice President Kamala Harris, who spoke before the president at the signing event in the White House.
"Great nations don't ignore their most painful moments," Biden told the East Room crowd, which included dozens of politicians, activists and community leaders. "They embrace them." U.S. President Joe Biden applauds Vice President Kamala Harris as they arrive to marking the signing of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law in the East Room of the White House in Washington, June 17, 2021."In short, this day doesn't just celebrate the past. It calls for action today," Biden said.
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