On Thursday at the White House, President Joe Biden signed legislation that makes June 19 Juneteenth National Independence Day and designates it as a federal holiday. The president told those gathered for the signing ceremony that he considers the new holiday “one of the greatest honors” of his presidency:
“I have to say to you, I’ve only been president for several months, but I think this will go down, for me, as one of the greatest honors I will have as president.
“I regret that my grandchildren aren’t here, because this is a really, really, really important moment in our history. By making Juneteenth a federal holiday, all Americans can feel the power of this day and learn from our history — and celebrate progress and grapple with the distance we’ve come (and) the distance we have to travel.”
Juneteenth is officially a federal holiday.
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 17, 2021
Biden on making Juneteenth a federal holiday: “I’ve only been president for several months, but I think this will go down for me as one of the greatest honors I will have had as president.” pic.twitter.com/gX1V5lHxCZ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 17, 2021
Yet despite the historic occasion, conservatives on social media were apoplectic, and they had a full-scale meltdown, proving yet again that right-wingers are angry whenever something is done that recognizes the shameful past of the United States on the issue of race and equality:
Lincoln knew America’s founding was July 4 1776. He knew that was the day our amazing nation made a step from “ideal” to reality
“Juneteenth” is an affront to the unity of July 4th. We now have 2 summer holidays—and one of them based on race
Shame on the GOP for supporting this
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 17, 2021
Juneteenth is soooo lame.
Democrats really need to stop trying to repackage segregation.I’ll be celebrating July 4th and July 4th only.
I’m American. 🇺🇸
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) June 17, 2021
Every single race has been enslaved at some point in human history. Africans are STILL enslaved today.
This is not a holiday. This is more emotional training from Democrats to see ourselves as somehow separate from America.Independence Day is July 4th.
The end.
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) June 17, 2021
Segregationist Joe Biden says Juneteenth is “a day in which we remember the moral stain and the terrible toll that slavery took on the country—and continues to take.”
More emotional programming for black people that choose to opt in to the perpetual victim mentality.
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) June 17, 2021
But Twitter karma quickly caught up with the right-wing hysteria:
slavery sounds like it was pretty bad. personally seems fine to celebrate getting rid of it, not sure why you’re so triggered
— ryan cooper (@ryanlcooper) June 17, 2021
Juneteenth: *exists*
Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens: pic.twitter.com/FNV1QWdTbH
— White Bob Summer (@BobbyBlueCollar) June 17, 2021
Everybody who is against teaching in schools why Juneteenth is now a holiday is also well-versed at blurting the words “I’m not a racist, but…”
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) June 17, 2021
listen up, stupids: you can celebrate Juneteenth *and* the 4th of July
— Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) June 17, 2021
Featured Image Via NBC News
