Hoyer Statement on Juneteenth
Press Types
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
June 19, 2018
Contact Info:
Mariel Saez 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today recognizing the 153rd anniversary of Juneteenth, the oldest, nationally-celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States:
“On the nineteenth of June, 1865, the last enslaved people in America learned of their freedom. It was – and has since been – a day of celebration and reflection. As we mark this Juneteenth, let us remember the horrors of slavery and the system of segregation that followed. Let us pay tribute to those who risked their lives for abolition, emancipation, justice, and equality – and draw inspiration from them as we face injustice in our midst.
“I’m proud to stand with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus to fight against racism and discrimination in this country, to stand up for the principle that every African American’s life matters and that he or she ought to be able to pursue every opportunity this nation offers – including the right to vote, which remains under threat. Together, we are strengthened by the memory of heroes like Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist who was born into bondage in Maryland and made his way to freedom. He said: ‘The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous.’ On Juneteenth, let us all recommit ourselves to the work of building an America that faces its history with honesty and abides by its highest virtue of ‘liberty and justice for all.’"
“On the nineteenth of June, 1865, the last enslaved people in America learned of their freedom. It was – and has since been – a day of celebration and reflection. As we mark this Juneteenth, let us remember the horrors of slavery and the system of segregation that followed. Let us pay tribute to those who risked their lives for abolition, emancipation, justice, and equality – and draw inspiration from them as we face injustice in our midst.
“I’m proud to stand with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus to fight against racism and discrimination in this country, to stand up for the principle that every African American’s life matters and that he or she ought to be able to pursue every opportunity this nation offers – including the right to vote, which remains under threat. Together, we are strengthened by the memory of heroes like Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist who was born into bondage in Maryland and made his way to freedom. He said: ‘The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous.’ On Juneteenth, let us all recommit ourselves to the work of building an America that faces its history with honesty and abides by its highest virtue of ‘liberty and justice for all.’"