DNC on Juneteenth

DNC Chair Tom Perez and DNC Black Caucus Chair Virgie M. Rollins released the following statement commemorating the anniversary of Juneteenth, when slaves in Galveston, Texas received the news that the Civil War had ended and they were free at last:

“Today, we celebrate Juneteenth, the day enslaved African Americans throughout the Confederacy received the long-awaited news of their freedom. But while we recognize the progress our nation has made, we also know that the scars of slavery and segregation have not fully healed. African Americans still face injustices every day, in all areas of our society – from voter suppression and racial gerrymandering, to pay gaps and predatory lending, to police brutality and sentencing disparities. As we commemorate the day freedom’s call reached Galveston, let us continue to be vigilant against discrimination and bigotry, and let us recommit ourselves to the cause of justice and equality for all Americans – no matter the color of their skin.”