MADISON (AP) — Wisconsin has gotten a jump on its Juneteenth celebrations by raising a commemorative flag over the state Capitol and holding a ceremony organized by Black lawmakers and attended by Gov. Tony Evers and others.
Evers, a Democrat, last year ordered the raising of the Juneteenth flag for the first time in the state's history.
Although the holiday marking the end of slavery in the U.S. is technically Saturday, the flag was raised a day early and will fly until Monday, temporarily replacing a rainbow gay pride flag that is up in June.
President Joe Biden on Thursday signed legislation establishing Juneteenth, or June 19, as a federal holiday.
