MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Senator Ron Johnson, who voted last year against a Juneteenth being national holiday, showed up for a Juneteenth Day celebration. It was a mistake. A crowd recognized Johnson at a Republican Party booth and booed. The crowd grew, the boos too. The chant: “We don’t want you here.” As the heckling crescendoed, Johnson, his voice drowned out, walked away. Last week Johnson indeed voted for Juneteenth but only under pressure from fellow Republicans to make it a unanimous vote to make the GOP look good. Why had Johnson been reluctant? Johnson later explained to a reporter: “Although I strongly support celebrating Emancipation, I objected to the cost and lack of debate. While it still seems strange that having taxpayers provide federal employees paid time off is now required to celebrate the end of slavery, it is clear that there is no appetite in Congress to further discuss the matter.”
Johnson. What was he thinking with audacious Juneteenth appearance.
Verbatim
Johnson to a reporter later: “Most people in Wisconsin say, ‘You are in our prayers. We are praying for you.’ But you got some people here that are just sort of nasty at some points.”