The fight for true freedom, justice, and equity must go on.
John,
We’re celebrating Juneteenth today and remembering the origins of our nation's newest federal holiday. It was on this date in 1865 that those who were enslaved in Galveston were informed of their freedom — more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Together, we honor this powerful moment of liberation in our history and the heroes who devoted their lives toward the abolition of slavery.
Beto joined Opal Lee in Fort Worth yesterday for her Juneteenth Walk for Freedom.
This day also requires us to reflect on how much more work we have to do to achieve true Black liberation. The full promise of Juneteenth is not yet realized as we fail to address a legacy of slavery and segregation that is still alive in this country. We saw this last summer when Governor Greg Abbott pursued voter suppression formulated to keep Black Texans from having their voice heard and vote counted.
The truth is that we still have work to do. When Texas leads the country in the number of people who cannot see a doctor each year that Abbott has been governor, and the rate of maternal mortality is three times higher for Black women than white women in a state that leads the developed world in the rate of maternal mortality, we have work to do.
When six out of ten Black Texans don’t make a living wage and millions live below the federal poverty line, we have work to do. When white Texans are more likely to receive a diploma than Black Texans, we have work to do.
The fight for true freedom, justice, and equity must go on. So today, let's celebrate Juneteenth by committing to full justice in Texas and supporting the ongoing work to end structural racism.
John, if you're with us in this work for full civil rights, civil liberties, equality, and opportunity, please consider a contribution of any amount today to power Beto’s campaign to be a governor who is focused on and fighting for the people of Texas.
Thank you,
Beto for Texas
