Congressman Cohen's Statement on the Juneteenth Holiday

Statement

Congressman Cohen's Statement on the Juneteenth Holiday

Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) issued the following statement recognizing Juneteenth, the oldest, nationally-celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States:

One hundred and forty three years ago today, Major General Gordon Granger and Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state still under Confederate authority and enforce the emancipation of its slaves. That day, General Granger stood on a balcony in the town square and read the following statement: "In accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves."

Although President Lincoln had issued The Emancipation Proclamation nearly three years earlier, the news of freedom did not reach African-Americans deep in Confederate territories until much later. After General Granger's pronouncement on June 19, 1865, newly freed slaves in Galveston rejoiced in the streets with jubilant celebrations, and the Juneteenth holiday was born. Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas the following year and it has since spread out to cities and states across the country as a de facto National Freedom Day. For example, in Memphis, the Juneteenth Freedom and Heritage Festival just celebrated its 15th Anniversary this weekend with another successful concert in Douglass Park.

This year has had a profound impact on America's long struggle to fulfill the promise of civil rights and equality. I'm proud to celebrate this important day in our national history with the people of the 9th District, and we honor all those who have come before us that have sacrificed and bled and marched for that promise.

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