US lawmakers hail new federal holiday marking end of slavery

US lawmakers have expressed their content over the landmark passing of a new federal holiday celebrating the end of slavery, supporting the move as an important step towards repatriations for Blacks.

The bill recognizing June 19 as “Juneteenth National Independence Day” was signed by US President Joe Biden on Thursday.

"[W]e are here to witness President Joe Biden establish Juneteenth as a national holiday. We have come far, and we have far to go, but today is a day of celebration,” Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to serve as vice-president, said at Thursday’s White House bill-signing ceremony.

However, some lawmakers noted that recognizing Juneteenth to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States is not enough to compensate for enslaving African-Americans.

They noted that recognizing Juneteenth was a landmark step before the next step, which was making reparations to the Black community in the United States for the atrocities committed against them by white supremacists.

Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar said on social media that more work was needed to address the lasting consequences of slavery.

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren called the bill recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday an "important step" for eradicating racism in the United States. 

For the first time ever, #Juneteenth is a federal holiday. It’s an important step. But we can’t stop here. We have to root out systemic racism in every aspect of our economy and society—including health care, housing, education, banking, policing, and voting.

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) June 19, 2021

Americans must "root out systemic racism in every aspect of our economy and society—including health care, housing, education, banking, policing, and voting," Warren tweeted on Saturday.

This #Juneteenth, we celebrate the end of slavery in the United States, and we remember that systemic racism remains a roadblock to racial equity and justice. We can, and we must, do better. pic.twitter.com/QH0HyOXciH

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) June 19, 2021

"[W]e remember that systemic racism remains a roadblock to racial equity and justice," Warren added in a video also posted on Twitter. "We can, and we must, do better."

Senator Rand Paul pointed out that Juneteenth "honors the end to slavery in the United States and today we celebrate the inherent freedoms we share as Americans."

#Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and today we celebrate the inherent freedoms we share as Americans.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) June 19, 2021

In related news, eleven US mayors said on Friday that they were committed to paying reparations for slavery.

The group of mayors, led by Los Angeles' Eric Garcetti and Denver's Michael Hancock, announced the establishment of the Mayors Organized for Reparations and Equity (MORE) coalition to pursue reparations for Black communities.

“Our coalition stands on the belief that cities can — and should — act [against] ... racial and economic justice on a larger scale,” the group said on its website.

Meanwhile, as the fight against racial and class discrimination in the United States gains momentum, efforts are underway in Congress to stage a reparations vote for African-Americans.

US Black Democrats press leaders for reparations vote this month

US Black Democrats are pressing hard on party leaders to stage a reparations vote this month.

House bill number HR-40, if passed, will study ways to compensate to African-Americans affected by slavery and discrimination in the United States and recommend appropriate reparations.

Analysts believe discrimination and violence against people of color in the United States is a systemic problem rooted in the legacy of slavery and legalized segregation in the country which surged under former President Donald Trump.

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