A message from President Dave Weidlich
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued Proclamation 95, more widely known as the Emancipation Proclamation. Through this long overdue Executive Order, more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans were declared legally free.
This moment should have marked the end of arguably one of the darkest chapters in American history: the institution of slavery; however, the Emancipation Proclamation did not immediately result in freedom for all enslaved individuals.
Despite the Confederacy's overwhelming defeat in April 1865, the State of Texas refused to adhere to the law, ignoring the order until the next harvest to further exploit the free labor of the state’s newly freed slaves.
In response to this overt lawlessness, Union troops, mostly made up of African American soldiers, arrived on Galveston Island to take charge and assure that all enslaved people were set free. This led to General Order No. 3, issued by Union General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, officially declaring that all enslaved people in Texas were free.
This historic day became known as Juneteenth, a contraction of “June” and “nineteenth.” It has since become a powerful symbol of Black liberation, resilience, perseverance and the ongoing struggle for civil and human rights in the United States.
For decades, activist and educator Opal Lee, often referred to as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” worked tirelessly to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday. Her lifelong fight became law on June 17, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday, recognizing it as the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.
Juneteenth is more than a historical milestone; it is a call to action. As a nation, we must acknowledge the continued existence of systemic racism, environmental injustice, and the pressing need for immigration reform. Remembering the stories and sacrifices of those who came before us is vital to building a more just and equitable future.
