DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and DNC Black Caucus Chair Virgie M. Rollins released the following statement in commemoration of the 157th anniversary of Juneteenth in the United States:

Today commemorates freedom and progress for Black Americans. Juneteenth marks the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to inform enslaved people of their freedom and the end of the Civil War.

This story has been one of historic progress — hard won by heroes like John Lewis and Fannie Lou Hamer and everyday people alike. It has also been a chapter in which injustice has persisted — in the form of racist violence, voter suppression, and continued systemic inequity.

Today, we honor the work of our ancestors, celebrate the resilience and joy of our communities, and recommit to building on the progress won by those who came before us. As Democrats and as Black Americans, we will continue to fight to secure the fundamental freedoms of Black people in this country — not just for ourselves but for our children and those to come.