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155 years ago today, on June 19, 1865, enslaved people of African descent in Texas were told that the civil war was over and slavery had ended in the United States — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.
Juneteenth reminds us that for Black people, there have always been limitations to freedom, as the fight for Black liberation continues today.
The struggle for freedom began long before slavery ended in 1865 and it never stopped. It was there when Ida B. Wells courageously exposed the horrors of lynching, even in the height of the Jim Crow era; when, for 381 days, Black people boycotted racist transportation policy in Montgomery, Alabama; when Marsha “Pay it No Mind” Johnson — a Black trans woman — was one of the leaders of the uprising at Stonewall; when protestors marched through a burning Ferguson, Missouri, declaring emphatically that Black lives do in fact matter.
In this moment, the fight for freedom continues.
As we gather on city streets shouting the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks, and the countless other lives taken brutally at the hands of police — we are not alone. We step in the spirit of generations of freedom fighters before us.
Planned Parenthood stands with the Movement for Black Lives because we know that over every system that governs us — policing, education, housing, health care, and more — falls the ugly shadow of white supremacy. These systems must undergo drastic transformations in order for us to fully realize our mission of reproductive freedom for all. And right now we are seeing a unique possibility for real, lasting change.
So today, on Juneteenth, I'm personally asking you to help us continue the urgent and necessary work of liberation. Here are a few actions you can take this weekend to get started:
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Join the Movement for Black Lives. Black communities are demanding justice and are calling to defund the police. Sign up here to take action on Juneteenth and beyond »
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Verify that you're registered to vote. Voting is essential to enacting lasting change for ourselves and those who come after us. Make sure your vote will be counted on Election Day: Check your voter registration status today »
Whether we rally in the streets or amplify Black voices online, there is no one way to fight for freedom; all that is required is that we do.
For our white and non-Black supporters: I hope that by taking these actions today you feel empowered to take ownership in the struggle towards freedom — because it is all of ours to own.
And for our Black supporters: This is my community too, so I see you, I'm with you. Take action today if you are able, but most importantly, take the space you need to rest and be joyful — we need you in the fight ahead.
