Dear John,

On Juneteenth, we celebrate and commemorate the significance of freedom. This day prompts us to acknowledge our history and recognize the progress our country has made since the end of the Civil War.

On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery in the United States. Unfortunately for many, slavery did not truly end in our country. On June 19, 1865, two years later, the news of emancipation was finally delivered to the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas. 

Decades later, many states have come to acknowledge the significance of this day, Juneteenth.

In 2021, President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, officially making it an observed federal holiday. I am pleased to have cosponsored this legislation and recognize those who helped make this holiday a reality. This includes Ms. Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth”, and leadership from the Congressional Black Caucus. We still have a long way to go to fulfill the promise of equality for all Americans, but we have made considerable progress.

In January, I attended the Waterbury Board of Alderman meeting, where dozens of residents spoke in support of making Juneteenth a holiday in the City of Waterbury. I was pleased the Board voted unanimously to recognize the day the last enslaved people were freed. Residents spoke and the Board listened – a wonderful example of what civic engagement looks like.                            

Today, I attended the Freedom’s Journey Juneteenth Celebration in Waterbury, where this is the first year the ceremony takes place on a day observed as a city holiday. The Juneteenth Flag Raising celebration, hosted by the 2024 Waterbury Juneteenth Committee, commemorates the holiday as a pivotal moment in American history.

Across the fifth district and the state, communities gathered to reflect on the true meaning of Juneteenth, as well as share their own stories of resilience and triumph. In New Britain, the Museum of American Art hosted their 23rd annual Juneteenth Celebration. In Farmington, the Hill-Stead Museum held a three-day celebration known as Juneteenth at the Hill, showcasing live performances of vibrant artistic expression, inspired by historic Juneteenth festivities; and in Litchfield, the Community Center held a Juneteenth commemoration. 
 
The towns of Avon, Canton, Farmington, Granby, and Simsbury came together at the Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center to host freedom celebrations, showcasing significant cultural customs like African storytelling, an oral tradition practiced to preserve a sense of identity and continuity between generations.  

In Danbury, the city held an annual Juneteenth Day of Freedom, Emancipation Jubilation: Honoring Our Past, Celebrating Our Future event, which returned for a third year at Western Connecticut State University's midtown campus. The event is led by the Danbury Juneteenth Coalition. 
 
On this day of deep reflection, Juneteenth continues to represent the joy and resilience of all communities.
 
Today, I honor the notable contributions made on our collective path towards progress.  I urge you to spend time with your loved ones doing the same.  
 

Jahana Hayes 
Member of Congress