Texas Representatives Celebrate Juneteenth

Texas Representatives across the state celebrated June 19, also known as Juneteenth.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) gave some context to the holiday’s fight to be recognized as an official holiday.

"#Juneteenth marks the arrival of the Emancipation Proclamation to Texas & the end of slavery in the United States. Texas was the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday. Today & every day, we strive toward a more perfect union with liberty & opportunity for all.”

 

Texas Representative Joaquin Castro (D) let voters know that he was part of the historic legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.

“On this Freedom Day, the fight for equality continues. In 2021, I was proud to vote to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday. Today, as we commemorate the day some of the last enslaved Americans learned they were free, we must recommit to a future with justice for all.”

Texas Representative Vicente Gonzalez (D) celebrated the holiday while also reminding readers that the establishment of Juneteenth as a national holiday was not the end of a bigger battle.

“On June 19, 1865, black Americans in Texas were officially freed. This was the end of slavery in the U.S. Today, we remember the sacrifices made to eradicate slavery & celebrate progress for racial equality. While there have been great strides, much work remains. #Juneteenth"

Similarly to Rep. Gonzalez, Texas Representative Sylvia Garcia (D) celebrated the holiday while also remembering the work that needed to be done.

“Happy #Juneteenth! Today we celebrate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. Let's reflect on our history, honor the resilience and contributions of Black communities, and continue the fight for equality and justice.”

Texas Senator John Cornyn (R) informed readers of Ms. Opal Lee’s, also known as “The Grandmother of Juneteenth”, work to get Juneteenth recognized as a national holiday.

“Two years after my bill to make Juneteenth a fed. holiday became law, I was honored to join Ms. Opal Lee, @MayorMattie & 100's of others in Ft. Worth to participate in Opal's Walk for Freedom to recognize the years it took for news of their freedom to reach enslaved people in TX.”

In other Texas news, Rep. Jackson Lee (D) took to Twitter to celebrate the recent Supreme Court ruling on voting laws in Alabama.

“The Shelby case destroyed voting rights, it took away from the work of our late and important civil rights icon John Lewis. It destroyed voting rights for the people of Alabama and became the precedent for destroying voting rights nationwide,” said Rep. Jackson Lee.

The ruling came as a surprise to many who thought that the court would affirm the congressional maps that were redrawn in 2020.

“Today, the Supreme Court gave dignity to itself by doing the right thing, by giving the right to representation to thousands of Alabamians. So many cases of voting discrimination did not prevail because of the Shelby case.”

“This is a clarion call that the Supreme Court can and must fix injustices. Pass the Voting Rights Enhancement Act now!”