Rep. Veasey Statement on Juneteenth

Washington, D.C. -- Today, Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) released the following statement commemorating the celebration of Juneteenth:

"On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was delivered, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War and slavery, in America, had ended.

From its Texas origin, the observance of Juneteenth as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond as a symbol of freedom.

Today, it is a celebration of a new era in the achievements of African Americans, a chance to reflect on our roots, and also an opportunity to educate the next generation about such an historic day.

Juneteenth offers an opportunity to reflect on how far we've come as a nation. It is also a chance to acknowledge the people who continue to struggle for freedom and recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of guaranteeing liberty and equal rights for all Americans."

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