Today is Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, but it was not read to A
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David Cicilline

Folks,

Today is Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, but it was not read to African Americans in Texas – the last group of enslaved people in the U.S. – until June 19, 1865. Today, we mark Juneteenth to honor Black Americans’ unique contributions to the struggle for justice in the U.S and celebrate Black freedom and resistance.

This is an important day for reflection across our nation. But Donald Trump wanted to mark the occasion with a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma – the site of the Black Wall Street Massacre of 1921, the single worst incident of racial violence in American history.

Trump caved to public pressure and move his rally back a day – but I believe that we have more to do to honor this date in American history.

Juneteenth should be a national holiday. Will you sign this petition if you agree?

SIGN ON →

Let’s all use this day to reflect on the work that remains. While we celebrate Black freedom, the Black community, and Black resilience, we must also acknowledge that there is much more to do to fully realize the promise of freedom for this and future generations of Black Americans.

Congress is hard at work passing important legislation to address police brutality and the systemic inequalities that fuel it. But there is more to do. We must continue to champion reforms that address structural inequalities in housing, education, healthcare, and more.

My office is closed today in honor of Juneteenth and I hope other businesses and organizations will consider honoring this day. And I hope Congress will act to make Juneteenth a national holiday for all. If you’re with me, sign on today.

Thanks,

-- David

 

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Democrat David Cicilline proudly represents Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District. An advocate for LGBTQ rights, a leader on gun violence prevention, and a fighter for Rhode Island families — David is one of our fiercest legislators in the Trump Era.

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