Commemorating Juneteenth

Dear neighbor,

On June 19, 1865, African Americans enslaved in Galveston, Texas learned of the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery signed two years prior. Since then, June 19 – or "Juneteenth" – has been celebrated as a day of freedom throughout the country.

I wanted to share the following statement from State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) about this historic day:

"Today, 160 years later, Juneteenth is still as important as it was the first year it was celebrated. Juneteenth is a day to celebrate the liberation, joy and achievements of Black people. It is also a time to channel our efforts to overcome the barriers that still lie ahead of us.

"In 2025 – in our state of Indiana and across the nation – efforts are being made to undo the progress Black leaders have made for our community. From banning diversity, equity and inclusion practices in government agencies to shameful whitewashing of slavery from the second-in-command of Indiana, we don't have the luxury of disengaging. We need to be steadfast in ensuring that our history is not erased, our contributions are not minimized and that our voices are heard.

"This starts in the classroom. Teaching our children true American history – the good, the bad and the ugly – will help us ensure that the achievements of African Americans, the horrors we faced and contributions we're making today will not be forgotten. Some of the steps our Republican supermajority took in the most recent session of the Indiana General Assembly actively work against this goal. We should never shy away from our history – the strength of our democracy depends on us confronting our past and working to create a future where all people are extended the promise of America.

"There's still a lot of work to be done to make Indiana a better state for all. We in the IBLC will continue to work to remove roadblocks and create an equal playing field for Hoosiers from all walks of life."