S.C. lawmaker pushes to make Juneteenth a state holiday

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - South Carolina Rep. Todd Rutherford pre-filed legislation to establish Juneteenth as a state holiday.

State officials said the best way to memorialize the history of Juneteenth is by making it a state holiday, despite it already being a federal holiday.

Rutherford drew a comparison between Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, saying making MLK Day a state holiday was a way to ensure people did not forget who King was. This is why Rutherford and other officials believe the same should be done for Juneteenth, especially with South Carolina’s historical ties to slavery.

Rutherford explained the pushback he received and why.

“Any state holiday you are paying state employees to not be at work. And that cost is always a big pushback and something that we have to deal with. But when it’s something as important as Juneteenth, something as important as when all the persons that of color that were slaves were freed. I think the cost is worth it,” said Rutherford.

Rutherford is encouraging South Carolinians to reach out to of the House and Senate to express for the bill.

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