Political Quotes

“Today marks the 143rd anniversary of Juneteenth, a day on which our Nation celebrates the complete abolition of slavery in the United States. On June 19 of each year, we mark a turning point in American history. On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing slaves in the Confederate states. However, it was not until June 19, 1865, a full 2 rac{1}{2} years later, that Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 Federal troops arrived in Galveston, TX, to take possession of the State and enforce the emancipation decreed by President Lincoln. Tragically, slaves in Texas were not freed until that date. Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas the following year and have continued ever since. Now, in communities across the country, Juneteenth is a day for Americans to reflect upon a tragic period that divided our Nation and prevented realization of the Declaration of Independence's introductory words, '(W)e hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . . '”