Juneteenth is more than a simple story of freedom. It is also a story of delayed liberation for 250,000 enslaved people in Texas who learned about their status as freed people two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863. It is a story of hope for a better tomorrow, ripe for celebration – and reflection that freedom delayed is freedom denied.
While we celebrate the joy of Juneteenth, it is also a reminder that our collective action is required to protect the promise of freedom. In recent days, we’ve witnessed ongoing attempts to deny, ignore, or withhold the rights of many in our community – from the Supreme Court’s decision gutting the Voting Rights Act to the Trump administration’s ongoing assaults on equity, inclusion, and justice.
In the face of these attacks, we remain committed. We know that true freedom for Black Americans is still long overdue, and there is much to be done to fight for the freedom and belonging of Black people, as well as trans people, immigrants, and so many others.
That’s why today is more than a celebration. It is a commitment to a better world where everyone is free and equal.
This Juneteenth, we invite you to celebrate and activate: Attend a community celebration, spend the day learning about our collective history, or find another way to get involved. Use our Juneteenth resource hub to get started.
Let the joy and power of community fuel you in our continued fight for Black liberation and our collective effort to safeguard and extend civil rights and civil liberties for all.
Celebrate today and fight for a better tomorrow.
In solidarity,
ACLU of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004, USA