New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed an executive order to make Juneteenth a holiday for New York state employees and has said that he will propose legislation next year to make June 19 a state holiday.

Celebrity activist Pharrell Williams was on hand as Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced legislation that could make Juneteenth a paid holiday in his state.

On Wednesday, June 17, a press conference by the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) was set to encourage Congress to send President Donald Trump legislation that would include Juneteenth as a National Day of Observance.

Jamaal Bowman, a candidate for a New York congressional seat, tweeted, “RT if you think Congress should make Juneteenth a national holiday.”

Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has introduced a resolution every year to make Juneteenth a national holiday.