Legislator Siela A. Bynoe Files Proposal to Designate ‘Juneteenth’ as a Nassau County Holiday

UsaNewsOnline.Com Desk, New York : Earlier Jun 18, Nassau County Legislator Siela A. Bynoe (D – Westbury) filed legislation to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for County employees starting in 2022.

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It specifically refers to the June 19, 1865 issuance of Union General Gordon Granger’s “General Order No. 3,” which brought news of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation to the people of Texas in these words:

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free,” the order reads in part. “This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves…”

Legislator Bynoe’s proposal would complement legislative action by New York State and the federal government, which have already established Juneteenth as a holiday in their respective jurisdictions.

“Juneteenth is a milestone in the ongoing mission to ensure every American experiences the equality and dignity that is enshrined in our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and is granted to each of us by our Creator,” Legislator Bynoe said. “By designating June 19 as a County holiday, Nassau will acknowledge the tremendous struggles and challenges that enslaved people experienced in American history and create new opportunities for residents to reflect and recommit themselves to achieving our sacred Constitutional ideals.” Press Release.