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Hi John, it's Sen. Robert Peters.

Today is the 159th anniversary of Juneteenth, when the last group of enslaved Black Americans in the Confederacy were proclaimed free by Union forces.

Now Juneteenth is a federal holiday, recognized by President Biden and many others as the true independence day for Black Americans – but I remember when Illinois made it a holiday even before then!

In 2021, right after being elected for my first full term and as the Illinois Senate Black Caucus Chair, I had the honor of voting to pass a bill in the State Senate to make Juneteenth a paid state holiday. When the bill was signed into law, it meant that families could enjoy the time of celebration, connect with distant relatives and nearby neighbors for community events, and continue passing down the memory of Black America's fight for freedom.

Unfortunately, our rights and freedoms, along with the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion have been under direct attack by right-wing extremists – but just like Black Americans have persevered despite chattel slavery, Jim Crow, and every version of covert and overt racism thrown at them, I can take the time to celebrate and be hopeful for a better tomorrow.

I'm intending to keep this message on the brighter side, so I'll end on this note:

John, I'm proud to say that our country has come a long way, but there's still so much work to do to address the systemic discrepancies in every facet of life that overwhelmingly leave Black folks at a disadvantage. With the attitudes, actions, and support from our grassroots coalition, I know we'll continue making progress in the Illinois State Senate and nationwide. Today, would you sign our petition to show your support in the fight for freedom and equality for all?

SIGN YOUR NAME HERE >>

Thank you,

Sen. Robert Peters

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Senator Robert Peters was born in 1985 deaf and with a massive speech impediment. His biological mother was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and his adopted mother and father were a social worker and a civil rights lawyer. He saw first hand the impact and devastation of the racist war on drugs.

As he grew up, he admired the work his father did as a civil rights and criminal defense attorney, challenging wrongdoing by the police. This combined with the effect of the criminalization of addiction, inspired his work on criminal justice reform rooted in the safety, freedom, and wellness of all people.

A defining moment for Peters was the Great Recession, as he struggled to find work and lost his parents within a year and a half of each other. He found his power through political organizing in solidarity with a variety of organizations in Chicago fighting for justice.

As a state senator, Peters has championed the end of cash bail in Illinois after years of organizing around it before becoming a Senator. This legislative session alone, Peters has passed six bills out of the Senate, as he continues to push Illinois forward as a leader in criminal justice reform and true public safety for all. He chairs the Labor Committee in the Senate and is Chair of the Senate Black Caucus. He is focused on environmental justice, racial justice, economic freedom, and public safety for all.

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