June 17th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signed a proclamation Thursday afternoon declaring Juneteenth, June 19th, a state holiday. The announcement means state workers will have Friday off.

Justice’s decision was announced a few minutes after President Joe Biden made Juneteenth a federal holiday. Congress passed legislation to do so this week.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It has been celebrated by African-Americans since the late 1800s.

Since June 19 falls on a Saturday this year, state workers will have a four-day weekend because June 20, West Virginia Day, which is also a state holiday, falls on Sunday, giving workers Monday off.

The state Supreme Court has also declared Friday a judicial holiday.

It wasn’t immediately clear Thursday afternoon whether counties and municipalities would follow Justice’s lead and declare Friday as a day off.