NLC Statement on Recognition of Juneteenth as a Federal Holiday

Washington, D.C. –  The National League of Cities (NLC) CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony issued the following statement today after President Biden officially signed legislation into law designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday:

“NLC has long supported establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, and we applaud Congress and President Biden for officially recognizing this monumental day in American history and for Black Americans. This long overdue federal recognition of the end of slavery in the United States is a powerful indicator that our country has made progress towards acknowledging our difficult but impactful history with race in our march towards racial equity. However, it is also a reminder that America has much more work to do. NLC encourages everyone to participate in events taking place across the country to commemorate this important day, and more broadly to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of Black Americans to our country.”