Tomorrow is Juneteenth, marking the day emancipation arrived in Galveston, Texas to free the last enslaved Americans. Juneteenth represents the heaviness of our nation’s history but also the promise of movement toward a more equitable future.

This day speaks to the lengths we have come, but more importantly, the lengths we have to go to make this country live up to its founding promise of justice and equality for all.

As the proud son of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, a civil rights attorney, and the former head over the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department, I have proudly dedicated my life to fighting for equity here, in Maryland, and across the country.

But the truth is, on issue after issue facing the Black community, we haven't done enough — both in America and right here in Maryland.

We can't afford to diminish the lives of Black families any longer. We’re at a critical crossroads and we have to seize this opportunity to bring about real change with real leadership. As Democrats, we must continue to march, and fight, and vote for the more perfect union Black communities deserve – from classrooms and courtrooms, to housing and health care, to the workplace and the ballot box.

I’m committed to addressing the real challenges that Black Marylanders face — from Mountain Maryland to Southern Maryland to the Eastern Shore. And as your Governor, I will continue these conversations and continue to work to craft a detailed agenda built on a foundation of equity and racial justice.

So today, and every day, I honor the sacrifices that so many have made to move us towards a more equal society by renewing my commitment to fighting for justice and equality for all.

Thanks,

Tom