US: Thousands march in NY on Juneteenth

Thousands of New Yorkers took to streets on Friday to commemorate Juneteenth.

marchers me ir way from Brooklyn, across Brooklyn Bridge and gared at Cman Plaza for a rally, where y chanted against police brutality and for better race relations.

Mayor Bill de Blasio anunced earlier in day that Juneteenth will be an official holiday for city workers and schoolchildren next year.

Mayor said city will also form a new commission to examine its history of racial discrimination.

Juneteenth marks day in 1865 when Union army brought word of Emancipation Proclamation to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln declared all slaves free in Confederate territory.

new Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission will give New Yorkers a platform to discuss ir experiences with racism, examine possible discrimination in public policy and recommend changes like removing symbols of racism from public s, de Blasio and his wife, Chirlane McCray, said in anuncing its formation.

(Representative Im)