John,

156 years ago today, Union soldiers made it to Galveston, Texas and declared freedom for the people still enslaved there -- more than two years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Just this week, Congress passed a bill making Juneteenth a national holiday -- as they should. This is an enormous day in the history of the country, John, one that is cause for celebration.

But this day should also be one for reflection -- this country still has work to do before all Black Americans truly have the freedom promised on this day in 1865.

Right now, Black communities in the Bronx face some of the highest asthma rates in the country as a result of 20th century century decisions to cut neighborhoods in half with large highways.

Systemic racism in our health care system has made Black Americans feel the effects of COVID-19 more severely than any group in the U.S.

There are Black communities in this country that have to wait in hours-long lines to vote, where just miles away, their white counterparts only have to wait minutes.

These injustices are all connected, John.

So on this Juneteenth, I hope you’ll honor the magnitude of this day by joining me in recommitting to the fight for real justice in our country.

We are not free until all of us are free.

In solidarity,

Ritchie Torres,
NY-15