Pelosi Honors 140th Anniversary of Juneteenth

Pelosi Honors 140th Anniversary of Juneteenth

Friday, June 17, 2005

Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. â€" House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi submitted the following statement into the Congressional Record today in honor of the 140th anniversary of Juneteenth, celebrated on Sunday, June 19. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

â€Å"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 140th anniversary of Juneteenth. On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger of the Union Army arrived in Galveston, Texas with news of the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War. Although President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863, it took almost two and half years for the Proclamation to be enforced throughout all of the United States.

â€Å"The 140th anniversary of Juneteenth is a significant milestone in American history. Juneteenth is a reference point from which to appreciate the progress made by African Americans in our society. The 140th anniversary coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 and the 40th anniversary of Congressional enactment of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.

â€Å"I would like to congratulate Representative Danny Davis of Illinois for his resolution recognizing the historical significance of Juneteenth. As Representative Davis says, ‘History should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving the future.’ As we look back and honor the past, let us celebrate the progress we have made as a nation.

â€Å"The Voting Rights Act, arguably the most successful piece of civil rights legislation ever, is set to expire in 2007. Congress and the President must reauthorize the act to ensure fairness in our political process and equal opportunity for minorities in American politics. Congress must also address the unfortunate disparities facing African Americans, which persist in every aspect of daily life. I congratulate my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus who have created an agenda to address these inequalities. We as Americans must work to eliminate injustices and move toward the goal of full equality.”