US Embassy in Nairobi to be closed by order of President Joe Biden
The Embassy of the United States of America (USA) will remain closed today, Monday, June 19, 2023, following a directive from President Joe Biden.
In a statement, the US Embassy in Kenya said it would remain closed in observance of Juneteenth.
“The Embassy will be closed on Monday, June 19, 2023, in observance of Juneteenth,” the US Embassy said in a statement.
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated on June 19, 2023, to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the US.
The holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where enslaved people were declared free on this date in 1865, following the Civil War, in accordance with the Emancipation Proclamation of 1862.
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Four days ago, President Biden hosted a concert on the South Lawn of the White House to commemorate Juneteenth, which is now the newest federal holiday.
During the event, President Biden said that the holiday will bring new life into America’s essence.
Juneteenth is a day that marks the end of slavery, particularly in the US, and by declaring it a federal holiday, US citizens will have to observe it.
“For me, making Juneteenth a federal holiday wasn’t just a symbolic gesture,” Biden said on Tuesday.
It was a statement of fact for this country to acknowledge the origin of the original sin of slavery, to understand that the war was never fought over it. It wasn’t just about a union, it was fundamentally about country and freedom,” he added.
Vice President Kamala Harris said the day was celebrated to honour black excellence, culture, and community.
“America is a promise – a promise of freedom, liberty and justice. The story of Juneteenth, as we celebrate it, is a story of our ongoing struggle to make that promise a reality. Not for some, but for all,” Harris said.
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