February 4th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

Following the lead of the state, the city of Cumberland will recognize Juneteenth as a legal holiday for employees this year. The June 19 celebration marks the end of slavery in the United States- and it became the first new national holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day when President Joe Biden signed it into law last year.  Juneteenth is a holiday that wasn’t on the radar of most Americans until a controversy erupted in 2020 when then President Donald Trump had scheduled a campaign rally on that date- sparking some debate. The Cumberland City Council took action at this week’s meeting making it an official city holiday. Mayor Ray Morriss said this was simply a matter of the city recognizing the actions taken on the federal and state level…