On this day 160 years ago, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news that the last enslaved Black Americans were finally free — two full years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. That delayed day of liberation is what we now recognize as Juneteenth.

Rep. Terri Sewell was an original cosponsor of the legislation that made Juneteenth a federal holiday, and she recently took to the House floor to commemorate the day:
 
Juneteenth is a reminder that liberation means more than just the breaking of physical chains. It demands justice in our laws, equity in our institutions, dignity in our labor, and respect in our schools, our neighborhoods, and in our nation.

In Alabama’s 7th District, we’re honoring Juneteenth with a host of activities:

The NAACP in Tuscaloosa kicked off the week of Juneteenth with a luncheon and a parade. In Birmingham, we celebrate with a unity breakfast hosted by D.A. Danny Carr and the League of Gentlemen.

And today, Major League Baseball returns to the Magic City for the 2025 East-West Classic at Rickwood Field—celebrating the legacy of the Negro Leagues and Birmingham’s important contributions to baseball history.

We will also celebrate the ribbon-cutting of the newly refurbished Willie Mays Park in Fairfield, Alabama. Thanks to the generosity of Major League Baseball and the extraordinary efforts of State Senator Merika Coleman and numerous community partners, the Willie Mays Park will now serve generations of aspiring young baseball players in Jefferson County. Come join us, and let today be both a celebration of hard-earned freedom and a reminder of the importance of our fight for equality.

Happy Juneteenth, everyone.

– Team Sewell