As Juneteenth grows in US, southern states cling to Confederate holidays

At least 30 states officially celebrate end of slavery in US, but others pay employees to take day off to celebrate enslavers

• Juneteenth: how did the holiday start and how is it celebrated today?

Juneteenth has been recognized as a US federal holiday since 2021 and acts as a day to celebrate the end of slavery in the country - but millions of Americans will not have the day off today, 19 June, to mark the occasion.

At least 30 states - including most recently Rhode Island and Kentucky - and the District of Columbia recognize Juneteenth as an official public holiday, according to the Pew Research Center.