Luján Statement Commemorating Juneteenth

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement commemorating Juneteenth: “As our nation commemorates the 250 th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we must remember that the promise of freedom was not extended to all Americans in 1776. “More than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, informing more than 250,000 enslaved people that they were free. Juneteenth marks this historic moment and honors the resilience, strength, and contributions of African Americans throughout our nation’s history. “As we celebrate Juneteenth, we reflect on the progress we have made and recommit ourselves to the work of building a more just future.” ###