See below for recognition of Juneteenth from Virginia Democrats. As Sen. Tim Kaine puts it: “today we celebrate #Juneteenth and the liberty it represents, but we also acknowledge that now, 154 years later, Black Americans are still facing real barriers to freedom.” Exactly.
“The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the U.S., all slaves are free.” On #Juneteenth we commemorate those words delivered to the last enslaved Americans.
While we celebrate that freedom, there is so much more work ahead. pic.twitter.com/7N3b9wbc08
— Virginia Democrats (@vademocrats) June 19, 2019
It took 2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation for all enslaved men and women to learn of their freedom—today we celebrate #Juneteenth and the liberty it represents, but we also acknowledge that now, 154 years later, Black Americans are still facing real barriers to freedom.
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) June 19, 2019
My hope is that the commemoration of this Juneteenth will be a day to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable — and I encourage all Virginians to take a moment today to remember, reflect, and learn.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) June 19, 2019
It was an honor to join @ElegbaFolklore in Richmond to celebrate #Juneteenth and remember what happened at places like the Manchester Docks. It’s more important than ever that we acknowledge our history — good, bad, and ugly — so we can study it, preserve it, and learn from it. pic.twitter.com/nd5gx9JDvF
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) June 19, 2019
The stories of Fort Monroe and #Juneteenth are central to the historic events we will commemorate in Virginia this year. We have made great progress since we wrote this, but we have more work to do. https://t.co/OTgUAa70G3
— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) June 19, 2019
In commemorating this day, I share images of my great-great grandmother born a slave & died free and her son my great grandfather, a son of the plantation owner, who went on to own his own farm as a free man. Their endurance & dignity are two of my greatest prides. #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/155DEV6ghY
— Charniele Herring (@C_Herring) June 19, 2019
Happy #Juneteenth to all. As a legislator, Virginia’s extensive history of slavery, oppression, Jim Crow, segregation and mass incarceration is not lost on me. We have an enduring responsibility to fight & correct racism in the many forms it appears in our laws and our society.
— Delegate Ibraheem Samirah (@IbraheemSamirah) June 19, 2019
#Juneteenth represents a positive turning point for our country, but in 2019 we are still pushing for progress and equality. The African American community, with powerful contributions to the state of Virginia and across this country, deserves true equality. https://t.co/kXxWyRT4t8
— Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler (@DelegateFowler) June 19, 2019
#Juneteenth marks the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the United States. Like many, I trace my lineage to slaves in the American South and each day I aspire to be their wildest dream. I stand on the shoulders of giants like my grandmother Margaret Simmons. pic.twitter.com/yQmLHZycJ1
— Jay Jones (@jonesjay) June 19, 2019
Karl Frisch is celebrating Juneteenth Day.
Today we celebrate Juneteenth, the day that slaves in the Confederacy learned of their freedom. There is much more work to be done as our country continues to struggle with, and too often ignores, the legacy of injustice and discrimination that the black community has endured.
Our schools should teach the truth about our history as a commonwealth and country. The Confederacy should not be celebrated in our curriculum or commemorated in the names of our schools.
We must also address resource and discipline disparities that disproportionately impact students of color and work harder to recruit and retain teachers and administrators that resemble the diverse communities they serve.
There is undoubtedly more that can and should be done. As a school board member, my mind and heart will be open to additional suggestions from the community as we work to build a school system where everyone is valued, and equity is a priority.
Today we celebrate Juneteenth to commemorate the formal abolition of chattel slavery. The day when the nation experienced what W.E.B. Dubois called “a new birth of freedom.” pic.twitter.com/9cNc1q2BEg
— Parisa Dehghani-Tafti (@parisa4justice) June 19, 2019
The fight for justice continues. We must eradicate systemic racism and ensure everyone has equal justice under the law. https://t.co/ECJhQ0e6sK
— Kathy Tran (@KathyKLTran) June 19, 2019
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Dear Friends;
On June 19th, 1865, freed slaves celebrated upon finally hearing the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation. We must never forget that Freedom was hard fought on battle fields not far from our homes. I believe that freedom often comes first wrapped in knowledge. That’s why I continue to work hard to make sure every child has access to excellent education.
I hope that we all celebrate this day and after a little rest from the school board endorsement and primary process, let’s gather to work toward excellent education for all of our students. Our opponents have a full slate and have hit the ground running. With your help, we will win this battle for access to knowledge and excellent education in Fairfax County.
Best;
Karen Keys-Gamarra
Fairfax County School Board Member at Large
Candidate for Re-Election
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