John,
Did you know that Juneteenth is still not recognized as a federal holiday?
In fact, not every state officially recognizes the day commemorating the emancipation of slaves and Black freedom. South Dakota is the final holdout for formally recognizing Juneteenth at the state level.
John, acknowledging Juneteenth is just one small, but meaningful, step we can take as a nation to de-sanitize our nation’s fraught history and honor the long, hard-fought struggle for Black liberation and justice.
It’s the right thing to do, and Congress should take action to right historical wrongs, starting by making Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday. Sign our petition if you agree the federal government should adopt Juneteenth.
Juneteenth is a day of celebration — for the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans and one of the last major milestones toward the end of slavery.
But it’s also a day of remembrance — for the ugly stain slavery and racial discrimination have left on our nation’s history, and all those who put their lives on the line for freedom.
Support for Juneteenth has never been stronger and more ubiquitous than now — all we are waiting for is Congress. Sign on to demand that Juneteenth be declared a federal holiday. →
Thank you for speaking up,
— Team Barbara Lee
