Juneteenth, the day commemorating the end of slavery in America, is now officially a state holiday after Gov. Phil Murphy marked the occasion on Instagram Live with R&B singer SZA.
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Gov. Murphy signed the legislation with more than 3,700 people watching, including SZA -- who was raised in Maplewood. State lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in July to approve the bill.
The law established the third Friday in June as Juneteenth Day in New Jersey. It is not a federal holiday. All but three states commemorate it in some way, but New Jersey is only the sixth to make it an official state holiday. Government employees will have a paid day off in honor.