The Juneteenth Federal Holiday Only Exists Because Of The George Floyd Protests
Is It Positive Action Or Distraction?
Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday, was a long time in the making. Actually becoming one came in an instant. Legislation to recognize Juneteenth was first introduced in 1997 by Barbara-Rose Collins (D-MI). A resolution was passed in the House and the Senate, and a piece of paper was issued. Satisfied, Congress did nothing else related to Juneteenth until 2013, when the Senate passed a new resolution and produced another piece of paper.
By 2016, 45 states recognized Juneteenth, and Opal Lee, the “grandmother of Juneteenth,” began a walk from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., to advocate for a federal holiday. Every year for decades, Lee led a symbolic 2.5-mile walk to represent the 2.5 years it took for news of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach Texas. Opal Lee was 89 years old when she led the March to Washington. She truly believed Juneteenth would one day become a national holiday. Her question was, would it occur during her lifetime?
On May 25, 2020, a 46-year-old Black man, George Floyd, encountered police outside a Minneapolis corner store. He later died from his injuries, and his death became another statistic. On May 26, 2020, police issued a statement saying Floyd died after a…
