June 19, 2016 marks the 151st year celebration of Juneteenth
WASHINGTON, D.C. – CBC Chairman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) issued the following statement in observance of the 151st annual celebration of Juneteenth:
“We celebrate Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, each year to commemorate June 19, 1865 when news of the end of slavery reached millions of slaves in Galveston, Texas and they were informed of their freedom and the end of the Civil War. It is a day when we reflect on the suffering of slavery and honor the lives lost over the course of one of the darkest periods in American history. As we celebrate Juneteenth 2016 with friends and family, we recognize the many contributions African Americans make to society and recommit ourselves to ensuring all Americans are treated fairly and equitably under the law and have an opportunity to achieve the American dream.”
