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A28 u.s. news
Diabierna 18 Juni 2021

Congress approves bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday

ing of George Floyd by police and states hold celebrations. Juneteenth is
as Republican state legislators push a paid holiday for state employees in
what experts say is an unprecedented Texas, New York, Virginia and Wash-
number of bills aimed at restricting ington.
access to the ballot box. While Re-
publicans say the goal is to prevent Under the legislation, the federal
voter fraud, Democrats contend that holiday would be known as June-
the measures are aimed at undermin- teenth National Independence Day.
ing minority voting rights.
Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said that
Several members of the Congressio- he would vote for the bill and that
nal Black Caucus took to the floor to he supported the establishment of a
speak in favor of the bill. Rep. Bonnie federal holiday, but he was upset that
Watson Coleman, D-N.J., said she the name of the holiday included the
viewed Juneteenth as a commemora- word “independence” rather than
tion rather than a celebration because “emancipation.”
it represented something that was de-
(AP) — The United States will layed in happening. “Why would the Democrats want to
soon have a new federal holiday ADVERTISEMENT politicize this by coopting the name
commemorating the end of slav- “It also reminds me of what we don’t of our sacred holiday of Indepen-
ery. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, have today,” she said. “And that is full dence Day?” Higgins asked.
speaking next to a large poster of a access to justice, freedom and equal-
The House voted 415-14 Wednesday Black man whose back bore massive ity. All these are often in short supply Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Mich.,
to make Juneteenth, or June 19th, the scarring from being whipped, said as it relates to the Black community.” replied, “I want to say to my white
12th federal holiday. The bill now she would be in Galveston this Satur- colleagues on the other side: Getting
goes to President Joe Biden’s desk, day to celebrate along with Republi- The bill was sponsored by Sen. Ed- your independence from being en-
and he is expected to sign it into law. can Sen. John Cornyn of Texas. ward Markey, D-Mass., and had 60 slaved in a country is different from a
co-sponsors. Democratic leaders country getting independence to rule
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, “Can you imagine?” said the rather moved quickly to bring the bill to the themselves.”
1865, when Union soldiers brought short Jackson Lee. “I will be stand- House floor after the Senate’s vote
the news of freedom to enslaved ing maybe taller than Sen. Cornyn, the day before. She added, “We have a responsibil-
Black people in Galveston, Texas forgive me for that, because it will be ity to teach every generation of Black
— two months after the Confeder- such an elevation of joy.” Some Republican lawmakers op- and white Americans the pride of a
acy had surrendered. That was also posed the effort. Rep. Matt Rosen- people who have survived, endured
about 2 1/2 years after the Emancipa- The Senate passed the bill a day earli- dale, R-Mont., said creating the fed- and succeeded in these United States
tion Proclamation freed slaves in the er under a unanimous consent agree- eral holiday was an effort to celebrate of America despite slavery.”
Southern states. ment that expedites the process for “identity politics.”
considering legislation. It takes just The 14 House Republicans who vot-
It’s the first new federal holiday since one senator’s objection to block such ADVERTISEMENT ed against the bill were Andy Biggs of
Martin Luther King Jr. Day was cre- agreements. Arizona, Mo Brooks of Alabama, An-
ated in 1983. “Since I believe in treating everyone drew Clyde of Georgia, Scott DesJar-
“Please, let us do as the Senate. Vote equally, regardless of race, and that lais of Tennessee, Paul Gosar of Ari-
“Our federal holidays are purposely unanimously for passage,” Rep. Da- we should be focused on what unites zona, Ronny Jackson of Texas, Doug
few in number and recognize the vid Scott, D-Ga., pleaded with his us rather than our differences, I will LaMalfa of California, Thomas Mass-
most important milestones,” said colleagues. vote no,” he said in a press release. ie of Kentucky, Tom McClintock of
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y. “I California, Ralph Norman of South
cannot think of a more important The vote comes as lawmakers strug- The vast majority of states recognize Carolina, Mike Rogers of Alabama,
milestone to commemorate than the gle to overcome divisions on police Juneteenth as a holiday or have an of- Rosendale of Montana, Chip Roy of
end of slavery in the United States.” reform legislation following the kill- ficial observance of the day, and most Texas and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin.

Hispanic group sues Santa Fe mayor over destroyed obelisk

(AP) — A New Mexico Hispanic inscription that described Indigenous war memorial, the obelisk is a marker remnants of the obelisk.
fraternal order is suing the may- people as “savage” was chiseled out in of the land grant issued from Spanish
or of Santa Fe over damage to a 1974 and never repaired. colonial royalty to Hispanic families Vigil has been an outspoken critic of
historical monument by activists that conquered the area in the 1600s. Webber’s handling of protests over
last year and the city’s proposal to The lawsuit asks a judge to prevent the obelisk and the removal of a statue
permanently remove it. the city from spending any time or It’s a reference point that anchors of Spanish conquistador Don Diego
money on modifications to the his- heritage and religious processions de Vargas from a downtown park. He
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in state toric downtown park until the stone for traditional Hispanics and serves said his organization has been shut
district court, the Union Protectíva obelisk is restored. as a reminder of genocide for Native out of conversations over the monu-
de Santa Fé argues that the 152-year- Americans. ments’ future.
old stone obelisk is a legally protected That would hobble Mayor Alan Web-
historical site under state law and that ber’s plans to have the monument “We’re protecting our history, culture A heated argument between the two
its removal dishonors Hispanic veter- permanently removed and replaced and our traditions, and our religion during a chance encounter at a res-
ans. with something that city officials also,” said Virgil Vigil, President of taurant near the Plaza was reported
deem more culturally inclusive. A Union Protectíva de Santa Fé. by the Santa Fe New Mexican.
A group of around 40 mostly white proposal for a commission to take on
activists tore down the stone obelisk that task is being considered by the For Vigil, a Vietnam War veteran and Webber called for removal of the obe-
last year after other statues and mon- city council next month, with an esti- helicopter pilot, honoring the veter- lisk last year, months before activists
uments across the U.S. were toppled mated budget of $265,000. ans is a major focus. tore it down on Oct. 13 during a pro-
over concerns about racism. test marking Indigenous Peoples Day.
The mayor’s office did not immedi- “This is respecting our soldiers that
In Santa Fe, inscriptions at the base of ately respond to a request for com- gave their lives to maintain the free- The daytime destruction happened
the monument honored Union sol- ment on the legal challenge. dom that we have and to end slavery,” after police left the area in a move
diers who died fighting Indigenous he said in an interview Monday, near the mayor said was meant to prevent
tribes and Confederate soldiers. One In addition to being a 19th century the grey wooden box that covers the physical violence.