Friend,

This is the first year in which we observe Juneteenth as a national holiday. It's a day to reflect upon the legacy of slavery and racism, to celebrate freedom and liberation, and to have important conversations about the work that still needs to be done so that freedom and justice are truly for all in this country.

Juneteenth commemorates the day when the last enslaved Black Americans learned that they were free. In 1865, Union forces made it to Galveston, Texas, and with them, they brought the full strength of the Emancipation Proclamation. The enslaved population of Galveston learned not only that they were free, but that they had been free for two years -- for two years, they'd been free under the word of the law, yet not free in practice.

Too often over the next 156 years, a similar contradiction has remained. Black Americans face systemic barriers that white Americans do not -- whether it's the right to vote, the ability to own a home or get a loan, or the right to be treated with dignity by law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

We're at a defining moment now in our country. Americans are increasingly aware of the ways that systemic racism has defined our past and present. Over the last year, we saw historic marches for justice, we saw Confederate monuments come down, and we saw state and local governments respond to public pressure and announce tangible actions to address violence against communities of color.

While we're only at the beginning of the long road to true equality and justice, I have hope for the future. I will continue to fight in Washington for comprehensive policies to advance racial justice -- and I will continue to listen to those who've experienced oppression and do everything I can to elevate their voices.

I stand with all who are fighting for equal rights and equal justice. Please consider supporting some organizations that are doing incredible work to advance racial justice and equality.

Let us mark this Juneteenth -- its first year as a national holiday -- by reflecting, recommitting, and acting.

Sincerely,

Jennifer