Cobb Reporter

Arguing that Veterans Day still isn't recognized as a city holiday, Marietta Mayor Steven Tumlin has rejected a push to have Juneteenth designated a holiday for the city. 

According to a recent report by FOX 5 Atlanta, the proposal aimed to establish Juneteenth as a paid holiday for city staff, although Tumlin raised concerns about recognizing the day over Veterans Day.

"I'm just throwing that out there about picking one over the other, especially one that's been on the books for 104 years," Tumlin told the council after vetoing the bill to make Juneteenth a city holiday according to FOX 5 Atlanta. 

Supporters of the proposal openly expressed their disappointment over the mayor's veto of the measure, with Attorney Gerald Griggs insisting the city took a major step backward stemming from Tumlin's decision, Fox 5 reports.  

Juneteenth marks the day when Texas slaves learned they were free, an action that came more than two years after Lincoln's emancipation proclamation officially became the law of the land. 

Among council members, FOX 5 reports, that four voted in favor of the proposal while three voted against its passage. This comes as Juneteenth recently became recognized as a federal, state and Cobb County holiday.

Following the mayor’s decision, an attempt to override the veto fell short by just one vote, causing Councilwoman Cheryl Richardson, who spearheaded the move, to walk out of the meeting, FOX 5 reports.