DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and DNC Black Caucus Chair Virgie M. Rollins released the following statement in commemoration of the 158th anniversary of Juneteenth: 

“On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas and formally informed enslaved people of their long-awaited freedom, two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. This day, Juneteenth, marked the beginning of a new era for Black Americans, but would also set in motion a long fight for full citizenship and equal protection under the law for all Americans. 

“158 years later, we celebrate the power and resilience of our enslaved ancestors and those who dedicated their lives to building a more equal and just America for future generations of Black Americans. While we celebrate today, we must also take stock of the work that still needs to be done in ending systemic racism, including passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act that would strengthen and protect our fundamental right to vote. 

“We honor the progress our country has made and celebrate the bravery of our ancestors who fought for fundamental rights for all Americans regardless of race. As Democrats we will continue the fight to make sure that America lives up to our founding principles laid out in the Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights, and ‘that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’”