Cook County becomes largest county to officially recognize Juneteenth as paid holiday for its employees
By Alice Yin
Chicago Tribune |
Dec 17, 2020 at 6:10 PM
The Cook County Board voted Thursday to recognize Juneteenth as an official paid holiday for county government employees starting next year, following a year marked by racial justice protests over high-profile killings of Black people.
In 2021, Juneteenth will be designated as one of 14 government holidays granted to all Cook County workers, making it the country’s largest populated county to grant a paid day off to celebrate both Black Americans’ freedom from slavery and their contributions to the nation. Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the measure, which outlines the centuries of mistreatment America has dealt on Black people.
That sullied history stretches to this year’s killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police as well as Ahmaud Arbery’s fatal shooting by two white men, the ordinance acknowledges.
“This year, Cook County and the nation have experienced unprecedented racial and civil unrest,†lead co-sponsor Commissioner Stanley Moore said. “The call to recognize Juneteenth in light of these unfortunate events is stronger than ever. The passage of this ordinance is the first step towards the healing process for African Americans and for all.â€
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