Celebrating Juneteenth
In 1865, Unions soldiers – many of whom were Black – brought news to Galveston, Texas: “In accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”
President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation had been in effect for more than two years, but the news had still not reached enslaved Americans in Texas. Today, 161 years later, we celebrate the long fight for freedom, and the people who so bravely fought for it – and continue to fight.
In 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday, alongside commitments to advance racial justice. Juneteenth celebrations this year come during a challenging time for our country—attacks on voting rights. Attempts to whitewash Black history and denigrate Black excellence. Devastating attacks against civil rights. Trump’s administration has even attacked the holiday itself, by removing Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day from the list of fee-free days at national parks.
But Trump cannot and will never erase our history, or our voices, or our accomplishments.
Just like the resolve of enslaved people who survived the unimaginable, our resilience persists. Juneteenth is about victories in the fight for freedom. It’s about how we continue to fight. And it’s about how we continue to find joy in our resilience.
In Indianapolis, there are many free activities across the city for you and your family today and throughout the weekend – including the 9th Annual Indy Juneteenth Celebration at the State Fairgrounds on Saturday.
Juneteenth is meant to be shared with others, so I hope you are able to take the time to connect with our community. I also hope you are able to reflect, reset, and celebrate freedom.
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