A silhouette of a man with hair in twists over a light blue background. Text reads Juneteenth: Freedom Day. [[link removed]]

[First Name] —

Each year on June 19, we celebrate the effective end of slavery in the United States, and in doing so, acknowledge our ugly past as a country built on the forced, free labor of Black people. (If you haven’t heard of Juneteenth before, take some time to educate yourself today [[link removed]] .)

On Juneteenth, we remember the celebrations that broke out as Black Americans learned of their freedom in the months after the Civil War. But we also recognize that there is still much work to be done to fully realize the citizenship of Black Americans.For nearly 100 years after the end of slavery and the passage of the 18th Amendment, Black Americans were denied the right to vote, until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. But even then, voter suppression policies and tactics continued to disproportionately impact Black Americans. And in 2013, the Shelby Co. v. Holder Supreme Court decision gutted the Voting Rights Act, making it even easier for states to pass discriminatory legislation that limits who has a voice in our democracy.

Laws dating back decades were designed to keep Black Americans enslaved through incarceration. Today, mass incarceration disproportionately impacts Black Americans, further suppressing Black votes.

One in every 13 adult Black Americans cannot vote. In four states, more than one in every five adult Black Americans cannot vote. This is unacceptable.This year’s Juneteenth falls during a powerful moment for civil rights in America. As protestors speak out against police brutality and systemic racism, we also want their voices to be heard at the ballot box. We’re working to make voter registration, mail ballots, and voting in person more accessible, and ensure no one is disenfranchised because of their race.

Join Rock the Vote in celebrating Juneteenth by taking action – sign up here to get alerts when your voice is needed for voting rights [[link removed]] . Then, share voting resources [[link removed]] to make sure your community is informed, and triple your impact by reminding three friends to vote [[link removed]] .

-Olivia Guerrieri, Rock the Vote



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Rock the Vote is a nonprofit working to protect voting rights for every American and enfranchise young people in the political process.
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