This week, Congress passed a bill to make June 19th, also known as “Juneteenth” a federal holiday.

The bill passed unanimously in the Senate, but there were some in the House who voted against it.

A total of 14 Republicans voted against it because they took issue with the name of the holiday.

“I fully support creating a day to celebrate the abolition of slavery,” Massie said during the debate on the House floor. “However, naming this day National Independence Day will create confusion and push Americans to pick one of those two days as their Independence Day based on their racial identity.”

In a statement released after he voted against the bill, Gosar said, “Our country is divided, and the cultural and political Marxists are continuing their relentless efforts to divide this country further. Juneteenth is more debunked Critical Race Theory in action. I reject racism. I reject the racial division people are promoting.”

He added, “I voted no because this proposed holiday does not bring us together, it tears us apart. I cannot support efforts that furthers racial divisions in this country. We have one Independence Day, and it applies equally to all people of all races.”

Now let me be very careful about this. I understand their point of division. Could there have been a better name? Maybe, but I really don’t think it’s important enough to vote no on it, and here’s why:

Yes, July 4th is Independence Day. This was established 250 years ago. However, not everyone was free and all men were not treated as equal because we did have slavery for 100 years after that. So honestly, I think celebrating the abolition of slavery is warranted and even calling it National Juneteenth Independence Day isn’t the worst because it wasn’t until then that all the slaves actually had their freedom also.