POST FALLS, Idaho – The Post Falls City Council voted to remove Juneteenth as a recognized city holiday during its meeting.
Two of the six council members voted against the removal of Juneteenth.
Council President Joe Malloy expressed his belief that the holiday is worth celebrating due to its significance in marking the end of slavery in the United States.
Newly elected Mayor Randy Westland proposed replacing Juneteenth with Columbus Day.
“Removing Juneteenth from the list as city holidays and restoring Columbus Day, which I believe is a more appropriate holiday honoring our American heritage,” Westland said.
Malloy voted against the proposal and shared his perspective on the importance of Juneteenth.
“Juneteenth celebrates the actual end of slavery in the United States. The abolition of slavery is one of the crowning achievements of western civilization and certainly worth celebrating,” he said.
Efforts to reach the Spokane and Treasure Valley NAACP as well as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference for comment have not yet been successful.
