ATLANTA – Georgia House Minority Whip David Wilkerson (D-Powder Springs) commends the passage and signing of U.S. Senate Bill 475, or the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, which recognizes June 19 as a federal holiday and commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S.
“It gives me great pleasure to know that this bill was passed in a bipartisan manner,” said Whip Wilkerson. “As a federal holiday, our nation now commemorates the end of slavery and the freedom of African-Americans in our country. Having Juneteenth as a holiday reinforces my hope for the future and highlights the need for us to acknowledge and learn from our country’s history. I appreciate President Biden signing the bill into law ahead of Juneteenth celebrations this weekend.”
Juneteenth recognizes June 19, 1865, as the day that enslaved African-Americans in Galveston, Texas were informed by Union General Gordon Granger that the Civil War had ended and that they were free under the Emancipation Proclamation. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, it was not until June 1865 that the last slaves were informed of their freedom in Texas.
Representative David Wilkerson represents the citizens of District 38, which includes portions of Cobb County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 and currently serves on the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Juvenile Justice, Retirement and Science and Technology committees.
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