As many across the U.S. celebrated the death of Osama bin Laden on Monday, some local officials pushed for the day to become a national holiday.
Then, they backpedaled.
The New Haven Board of Aldermen stopped short of voting on making May 2 “National Freedom Day” in honor of killing of Osama bin Laden on Sunday, reports the New Haven Independent.
Alderwomen Gina Calder, Jacqueline James-Evans and Claudette Robinson-Thorpe came up with the idea to make May 2 a holiday because al Qaeda has forced people to live in terror since Sept. 11, 2001, they told the Independent.
“It’s definitely a monumental occasion,” Calder told the Web site.
But, not all were in agreement.
A man was killed -- even is he is a mass murderer who brought terror on nations, opponents said.
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“Personally, I wouldn’t think it would be appropriate for a holiday which is after all the anniversary of a man’s death,” Alderwoman Maureen O’Sullivan-Best told the Web site. “I think this is a rush to do this. … It’s not good to call for things in the heat of the moment.”
There is still a possibility that New Haven could push for this again because the board decided to discuss this in further detail at an upcoming board meeting.
According to an article in Slate from 2004, the president can declare a one-time federal holiday, but Congress approves permanent holidays.
What the board did decide, however, was to call for the end of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
