We know Juneteenth as the day freedom was declared for enslaved people long before it reached them. Today, it serves as a reminder of how often this country has delayed justice, and how Black communities have organized for freedom anyway. Juneteenth is connected, both historically and today, to the fight for care and learning that begins at birth and continues throughout our lives. It is part of the struggle to ensure children can learn the truth about our history and feel safe in who they are. It means pushing back against the attempts to revive Jim Crow-era policies and take rights away from Black folks. And it is linked to making the ultra-rich pay their fair share in taxes, so our state not only maintains its safety net of services, but builds it out so every community has what it needs to build a foundation for its children and families to thrive.
