The Daily Populous

Saturday June 20th, 2020 evening edition

image for New York City declares Juneteenth an official holiday

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that Juneteenth - the 19 June date which marks the end of US slavery - will become an official holiday.

Several states already observe the day as an official holiday and there is a push to declare it a national holiday.

Mayor de Blasio said in a press conference on Friday that the date would be marked as an official city holiday beginning in 2021, and will also be a public school holiday.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Juneteenth: 'This is such a change in history'.

Earlier this week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an order making Juneteenth - also known as Emancipation Day and Freedom Day - a paid holiday for state workers.

In Pennsylvania, Gov Tom Wolf has also signed an order making Juneteenth a holiday for state workers.

In Washington, the most senior Republican in the Senate said on Thursday that he would introduce a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. »

Rayshard Brooks: Third day Atlanta police officers don't show up for work

Authored by edition.cnn.com
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This comes as the city is still reeling from the death of Rayshard Brooks , who was fatally shot by police officers last week.

The Atlanta Police Department denied officers weren't showing up for their shifts, but a police union director backed the accounts by CNN sources.

Atlanta Interim Police Chief Rodney Bryant told officers in an email obtained by CNN Friday that he understands their anger and frustration. »