Nassau Democratic legislators are pushing their Republican colleagues to vote on a bill that would make Juneteenth an official holiday in the county. 

“Nearly four years after Juneteenth became a federal holiday, Nassau County will treat it as just another Thursday,” said Democratic Legislator Olena Nicks, who introduced the bill. “It will be business as usual, the doors will be open. Employees will be expected to come to work, and Juneteenth will not actually be observed in Nassau County. If we simply say that we acknowledge Juneteenth but do not actually observe it, that is performative, and it is a slap in the face to those who recognize this holiday.”