Friend,

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth. On this day in 1865, Union General Gordon Granger reached Galveston, Texas with the news of the Emancipation Proclamation, stating that all enslaved people were free.

On Juneteenth, we commemorate freedom, resistance, and the victory against slavery. We honor and support Black Americans’ fight in pursuit of a more equal country. And while we celebrate, we also acknowledge that this fight for true freedom and equality is not over.

Nevertheless, Juneteenth is a momentous day and should be celebrated as such. I hope everyone has a safe Juneteenth and takes today to reflect on our country’s history.

– Senator Lindsey Williams