John,

On this day 155 years ago, a Union general in Texas read aloud federal orders declaring that the enslaved people in Texas were free.

This day became the holiday known as Juneteenth, and it remains an integral part of Black culture and American history. That is why I support efforts to make Juneteenth a national holiday.

Today, we should remember the history of struggle within our community. Juneteenth came over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and is a painful reminder that progress can be slow.

And as I reflect on this day, I recognize that the struggle continues. I know that our community is still hurting; as we fight through a pandemic disproportionately affecting the lives of Black and Brown communities, and as folks continue to call for real, systematic change to stop police brutality, I know there is still so much work to do.

Dr. King famously said that the moral arc of history bends towards justice. I believe that is true and I believe change is possible if we keep working.

So we will continue to fight. We will continue to shape American history so that its arc bends towards justice -- and we shall overcome.

--Colin