Friend,
Today, we celebrate Juneteenth to honor those who have fought for freedom and the progress we have made toward equity and equality.
Juneteenth began on June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. This is when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned the Civil War was over and slavery had finally ended in the United States.160 years later, inequity continues to be present in our day-to-day lives and through the systems our country runs on.
This is only the 4th year Juneteenth has been considered a federal holiday. While we take time to celebrate the day and the strides toward equity we’ve made, it’s important to acknowledge the reversal of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies across the country. Trump’s executive order to terminate DEI programs, and even the mere mention of DEI, in schools, the military, and government agencies, proves where his MAGA movement stands when it comes to equity.
DEI programs were created to give every individual equitable opportunities and environments in places of work and schools, especially for historically marginalized communities. We will continue to fight the threats to DEI programs and combat the racial injustice from the GOP as we work to reinstate these critical programs across the country.
Today, I encourage you to take time to reflect and make sure we all continue marching, voting, organizing, protesting, educating, and fighting until the promise of equal justice is fulfilled for all.
In solidarity,
Curtis Hertel
Chair, Michigan Democratic Party