The Assembly this afternoon passed a bill designating the third Friday in June in each year as Juneteenth Day — that celebrates the emancipation of remaining enslaved African-Americans — and establishes it as a State holiday.  The vote tally was 62-0-12.  Among those abstaining was our very own LD 24 Assemblyman Hal Wirths.

"The Assembly this afternoon passed a bill designating the third Friday in June in each year as Juneteenth Day and establishes it as a State holiday.

The vote tally was 62-0-12.

Among those abstaining was Assemblyman Hal Wirths (R-24), who said he didn’t oppose the thought process behind the holiday but said he could only support yet another state holiday if the legislature eliminated an existing holiday."

Source: Insider NJ, https://www.insidernj.com/insider-iline/wirths-explains-rationale-opposing-juneteenth-bill/?fbclid=IwAR3H73O__H_h7Qp5NfN3LPxKGcVExMq9eWEIlawKJMls3r4g7JeD00lbKiY