Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates 159th Observance of Juneteenth
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) released the below statement celebrating the 159th Observance of Juneteenth.
"On June 19th, 1865, news of the end of slavery finally reached Galveston, Texas more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth has always carried a deep personal significance for me, as my great-grandmother and many of my ancestors were born during slavery in Galveston. Each year, this day represents a time for reflection for my family and our nation’s past as well as a recommitment to justice for all in the present and future.
“Juneteenth – or Freedom Day – is both a day to celebrate emancipation and contemplate the darkest chapter in American history. African Americans have endured the middle passage, slavery, segregation, and institutional racism. Generation after generation, we have suffered systemic persecution, violence, and discrimination. On Juneteenth, we remember the millions of children, women, and men who were abused, massacred, and sold as property in this country for hundreds of years. In doing so, we also honor the courageous champions who fought to end slavery and the thousands of unsung heroes whose names we will never know.
“As policymakers, we must recognize the systemic and institutional racial biases that disenfranchise and disempower African Americans. But we also must remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, ‘the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.’ Let us honor our ancestors by recommitting to the fight for justice and equality today."