Juneteenth Day bill moves forward

(AP) - Nevada may celebrate a landmark day of the end of slavery in the U.S. if a new bill passes.

The Assembly passed a bill Friday that would require the governor to declare June 19 "June-teenth Day" in honor of the day in 1865 that the last slaves were informed of their emancipation.

The news came to slaves in Galveston, Texas more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.

The proclamation would call on the news media, educators and government workers to acknowledge the contributions of African-Americans to the state of Nevada.

Las Vegas Democratic Assemblyman Harvey Munford co-sponsored AB174 along with North Las Vegas Democratic Assemblywoman Dina Neal and Las Vegas Democratic Assemblyman Joseph Hogan.

AB174 now heads to the Senate.

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