McEachin Statement Observing Juneteenth

SUFFOLK, VA. – Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) issued the following statement observing Juneteenth:

“Today we commemorate Juneteenth; the day when slaves in Galveston, Texas, finally received the good news that President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. It was not until June 19th 1865, when slaves in parts of the south learned that the Proclamation officially ended the inhumane practice of enslaving of African-Americans in the United States. Today, we celebrate Juneteenth as both a reminder and a celebration. As we acknowledge the progress we have collectively made over the past 152 years, we must continue the fight for equality, justice and fairness, regardless of skin color. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.'

"At a time when our most basic democratic institutions, norms and values seem to be at risk, Juneteenth is a much needed reminder about our fight for freedom. This Juneteenth, I recommit myself to the continual pursuit of equal freedom and rights for all Americans no matter their race, religion, gender, national origin or sexual orientation.”

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Contact: Jamitress Bowden
(202) 225-6365