The observance of Juneteenth is recognition of a profound milestone in our nation’s history. And while our struggles for equality in the United States have been long and difficult and sometimes fraught with setbacks and terrible loss, today we reflect on how far we, as Americans, have come in this journey.

Juneteenth is an annual celebration on June 19 marking the end of slavery in the United States. Though the Emancipation Proclamation took effect in 1863, freedom would not come for many enslaved African Americans until years later. On June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers brought news of the Civil War’s end to Galveston bringing with them freedom for the 250,000 people enslaved in Texas. Juneteenth was made an official U.S. federal holiday yesterday.

Brothers and sisters, 

In the news and in social media there is a movement that workers are more apt to join a union today than in the most recent years past.  But as we have all witnessed with google and amazon workers, the pressures and unfair conditions those employees endure while organizing is still in favor of the companies and corporations.  We need to level that playing field and regain union density in this country.