John,
This is now the second 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 157 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. The memories of historic marches for justice just two years ago have not lessened, and many state and local governments have responded to public advocacy with tangible plans that begin to right decades-long wrongs.
While the road to true equality and justice will be long, 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.
So let us mark this Juneteenth by reflecting, recommitting, and acting. I stand with all who are working to achieve equal rights and equal justice.
Sincerely,
Jennifer
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Paid for by Wexton for Congress
Wexton for Congress
PO Box 650550
Sterling, VA 20165
United States
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