PoliticsPoliticselectionsBusiness

Trump Pledges To Make Juneteenth Federal Holiday In Bid For Black Voters

The president did not explain how he would get the holiday on the books sinceonly Congress has the power to create a federal holiday,
Steve Holland and Lisa Lambert

ATLANTA, Sept 25 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump made a series of promises at a campaign event in Atlanta on Friday in a bid to woo Black voters, including establishing Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of U.S. slavery, as a federal holiday.

Trump, who announced the promises less than 40 days before the November presidential election, also pledged to designate two groups as terrorist organizations: the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan and the amorphous movement known as antifa that opposes fascism. He also promised to increase access to capital in Black communities, create more jobs, support Black-owned businesses and expanding opportunity zones.

Trump said he “will always put Americans first and that includes very, very importantly Black Americans.” He spoke at an event in Atlanta, a majority-Black city and the largest inGeorgia, a state that could come into play in the Nov. 3election.

The speech and a fact sheet provided by Trump’s campaign did not spell out how Trump would make good on his promises.

Only Congress has the power to create a federal holiday, but Trump could help introduce a measure for lawmakers to pass.

Calls to make Juneteenth, June 19, a federal holiday grewlouder this summer as Black Lives Matter protests swept throughthe country and many organizations gave their workers the dayoff. The day is already recognized by 47 states and the Districtof Columbia. It marks when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston,Texas, and shared the news that slavery was abolished.

Hawaii, North Dakota and South Dakota do not have a holidayor other official observance of Juneteenth.

Trump is trailinng Democratic opponent Joe Biden in nationalpolling. He won Georgia in 2016, but his lead over Biden in thestate has recently narrowed, with a New York Times poll thisweek showing the candidates in a tie.

More than 85% of Black voters belong to the Democratic partyor lean toward it, according to the Pew Research Center.

Still, Trump told the Atlanta crowd that Biden “doesn’t knowBlack Americans like I do.”

(Reporting by Steve Holland and Lisa Lambert;Editing by Leslie Adler)

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Before You Go

15 Photos That Will Make You Want To Celebrate Juneteenth
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Missionary Pepper shows off the ribs she grilled for the cook-off contest at the 2004 Juneteenth celebrations at Nichol Park in Richmond, California. (credit:David Paul Morris via Getty Images)
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Siblings goofing around during Boston's 14th Annual Juneteenth Celebration in Franklin Park in 2010. (credit:Boston Globe via Getty Images)
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Miss Juneteenth 2015, Sean-Maree Swinger-Otey, 17, waves at the parade crowd in Denver, Colorado. (credit:Kathryn Scott Osler via Getty Images)
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Young men from the Like Brothers dance team marching in the 2015 Juneteenth celebration parade in Denver. (credit:Joe Amon via Getty Images)
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Jonas Felix leads the Buffalo Soldiers of the American West during a 2015 Juneteenth parade, in the historic Five Points neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. (credit:Craig F. Walker via Getty Images)
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Cheryl Rockwell, left, and Jeri Banks, sing, along with other members of the Hope of Glory Christian Center Choir from Los Angeles, during Juneteenth Celebration held at the park grounds of the Performing Arts Center on Hobson Way in Oxnard, California. (credit:Mel Melcon via Getty Images)
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Gospel singers say a prayer together before performing for crowds at the 2002 Juneteenth Gospel Fest held at the Sonny Lawson Park in Denver, Colorado. (credit:Kathryn Scott Osler via Getty Images)
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A young boy participates in a sack race during the 1996 Juneteenth celebration in Santa Ana, California. (credit:Don Bartletti via Getty Images)
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Jonathan Talley of Roxbury grills chicken, ribs, and sausage at Franklin Park for a 2014 Juneteenth celebration in Boston. (credit:Boston Globe via Getty Images)
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The Collegiate Preparatory Academy Warriors strut in the 2015 Juneteenth celebration parade in Denver, Colorado. (credit:Joe Amon via Getty Images)
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(RM) JUNETEENTH_KSO_6_14_08327 - Denver's Juneteenth celebration is back as organizers name the event 'Juneteenth 2008: The Rebirth. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States as slaves in Galveston, Texas learned that President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation two years earlier. Denver used to have one of the largest gatherings, and this year community leaders- including former Mayor Wellington Webb- worked to bring the festival back. There is a parade along with musical performers and entertainment for the kids. The Showstarz Cheer team perform acrobatics along the route. Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post (Photo By Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post via Getty Images) (credit:Kathryn Scott Osler via Getty Images)
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Members of the Syrian Temple Drum and Flag Corps. from Denver entertain along the parade route in Denver, 2008. (credit:Kathryn Scott Osler via Getty Images)
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Divaz U Kno! marching in the Juneteenth celebration parade that started at Manual High School commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States in 2015. (credit:Joe Amon via Getty Images)
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In 1998,-Reggie Penney,4, with sister Amber Penney,5, enjoy the parade as it passes the main stage during the Juneteenth festivities. (credit:John Leyba via Getty Images)
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Sharon Lyons gives grandson Jay Stevenson, 5, a kiss on the nose during a 2001 Juneteenth celebration held at the park grounds of the Performing Arts Center on Hobson Way in Oxnard, California. (credit:Mel Melcon via Getty Images)
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