Rep. Payne, Jr.’s Statement about Juneteenth

Media Contact: Patrick Wright -- Patrick.Wright@mail.house.gov

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. released the following statement about today's Juneteenth celebration. Juneteeth, or Freedom Day, commemorates June 19, 1865. On that date, Union Major General Gordon Granger read a proclamation that the Civil War had ended and all slaves were now free men and women.

"Juneteenth is more than just a day to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States," said Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. "It is Freedom Day for a reason. It is a day we celebrate one of the foundations of our democracy, that freedom and equality is something we all share. It is a day we took the first step towards removing our country's original sin. Given the events of the last month and the last decades, we have a long way to go to fulfill that promise. But Juneteenth reminds us that it can be done."

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