Anne Arundel Today

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement on June 19, 2023 commemorating the 158th anniversary of Juneteenth: 

"I am proud to join fellow Marylanders and Americans in commemorating the 158th anniversary of Juneteenth – the day when enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received news of their emancipation. Today, we honor those who endured the horrors of slavery as well as the courageous people – including Marylanders like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass – who helped bring an end to that vile institution in America.

"As we reflect on how far our nation has come, we also recognize that we must continue working to ensure that America lives up to its founding principle that 'all men are created equal.' Indeed, Juneteenth is a day to look back on our history and the obstacles our nation had to overcome, but it is also a celebration of the American virtues we need to uphold as we move into the future: freedom, justice, equality. At a time when some people in our country seek to ban books and censor teachers, we cannot lose the courage to confront our history, complete with all its nuances and complexities. Only then can we build a better future for all – no matter their color, faith, gender, orientation, or origin.

"Juneteenth elevates the founding principles that we all hold dear – the principles that make us Americans. That's why as Majority Leader I was proud to bring Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s legislation to the House Floor in 2021 to make Juneteenth a federal holiday at long last. As we celebrate today, let us recommit ourselves to our sacred, shared mission: to 'secure the blessings of liberty' for all Americans." 

Original source can be found here.