Vermont to celebrate Juneteenth holiday to mark end of slavery

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Vermont has become the 29th state to recognize the end of slavery in the United States with a state holiday.

The third Saturday in June will be designated as Juneteenth National Freedom Day.

The governor signed the bill into law on Tuesday.

Although the law doesn’t take effect until July 1, the state will celebrate its first Juneteenth on the Statehouse steps on June 21.

On June 19, 1865, the last slaves in Texas learned that slavery was over, more than two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

Texas is the only state where Juneteenth is a paid day off for state workers. Vermont’s new holiday will not be an official paid holiday for state employees.

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