Ed Markey: “I rise to speak in support of S. 4019, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act--legislation that I have introduced…”

“I rise to speak in support of S. 4019, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act--legislation that I have introduced along with Senator Cornyn. We have 54 cosponsors and broad bipartisan support that would make Juneteenth a Federal holiday. In a few minutes, I will ask unanimous consent that the Senate take up and pass this important bill. Our country is in the midst of a long overdue reckoning on race and justice. The murder of George Floyd by members of the Minneapolis Police Department has galvanized the Nation as protesters have taken to our streets, demanding justice--justice for George Floyd, justice for Breonna Taylor, and justice for countless other Black and Brown Americans who have been hurt or killed at the hands of law enforcement. Yet this reckoning goes well beyond seeking accountability for police officers who betray the trust we bestow upon them. The disparate treatment and mistreatment of Black and Brown Americans permeates our society. It infects our courts, our schools, and our places of work. It reflects the unfulfilled promise of a nation built upon the notion that all are created equal, and it has its roots in our Nation's original sin--slavery--a crime against humanity that we have for far too long failed to acknowledge, address, or come to grips with.…”