Sen. Cornyn hoping to make Juneteenth a U.S. holiday, events happening in North Texas

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A Dallas Cowboys star is taking on a very difficult less on history. Greg Ellis premieres Juneteenth the Play with a livestream launch Saturday night. He talks to Good Day about what he hopes people will take away from it. More: juneteenththeplay.com

DALLAS - Sen. John Cornyn said he will call for Juneteenth to be a federal holiday.

The Republican senator has been trying to get the holiday proposal through Congress since 2011.

Currently, the day when Texas slaves received the news they were free two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation is observed by 47 sates. It is a state holiday in Texas.

Businesses like the NFL and Amazon also observe Juneteenth as a holiday.

Several Juneteenth celebrations and events are happening Friday in North Texas to celebrate the holiday.

A drive-thru event is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in south Dallas. Those who stop by will receive free non-perishable food items, hygiene kits and household products.

There’s also a virtual Juneteenth event in Fort Worth Friday morning. The two-hour program starts at 11:30 a.m. It will be streamed on the city’s YouTube and Facebook page, as well as Fort Worth’s website.

The event looks at some of the challenges facing Fort Worth as it works toward justice for all.

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The city of Fort Worth marks Juneteenth in a different way this year, in part taking a look back at some horrific crimes. Christina Brooks, the director of Fort Worth's Diversity and Inclusion Department, joins Good Day to talk about Friday's program and the changes the city is pushing for.

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