DNC Chair Tom Perez and DNC Black Caucus Chair Virgie M. Rollins released the following statement commemorating the anniversary of Juneteenth, when slaves in Galveston, Texas received the news that the Civil War had ended and they were free at last:

“Today, Americans across the country celebrate Juneteenth, the abolition of slavery, and the generations of African Americans and their allies who have carried on the struggle for equality. From former slaves turned abolitionists to the tireless organizers striving forward beneath Black Lives Matter banners today, our nation’s long march toward progress carries on because of the enduring strength of activists demanding that our nation live up to the principles expressed in our founding documents.

“As we celebrate how far we’ve come, we also recognize that the deep scars of slavery have yet to fully heal. Systemic discrimination still poisons the promise that we are all created equal, and racial injustice keeps too many citizens locked out of America’s great vaults of opportunity.

“This Juneteenth, we recommit ourselves to dismantling the relics of injustice that remain embedded in our society. Democrats believe that our diversity is our greatest strength. We will continue to fight for our shared values of inclusion and opportunity. We will stand united to support and protect families, including those immigrant families cruelly and immorally separated by the Trump administration today. And we will never cease in the work of ensuring equality for all Americans – no matter the color of their skin. Together we can, we must, and we will form a more perfect union.”

The DNC also released a spoken word video titled “Our Power in Time,” written and performed by Alix Philogene, in honor of Juneteenth: