 John, Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States on June 19th, 1865, when the Emancipation Proclamation was enforced nationwide. Today, I’m honoring the lesson that this momentous day teaches: freedom must be fought for, protected, and expanded at every turn. Though 160 years have passed since the first Juneteenth, the legacy of slavery in America continues to this day. As a child growing up in Akron, Ohio, I saw first-hand that Northeast Ohio families work hard every day, but too often aren’t given equal opportunities — and this was especially true for Black families. My parents taught me that public service means standing up for others because it’s the right thing to do, not for self-interested reasons. And that’s why I’m in this race — I pick fights on behalf of the people against the powerful. In this moment in American history, it couldn’t be more important to continue the fight that the leaders of the past have left to us: the fight to secure equality and justice for all.
Thank you for all you do. Emilia Sykes |