Congressman Bishop Statement Celebrating Juneteenth

Press Release

Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) released the following statement celebrating Juneteenth, a national and international commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.

"Today, as we honor the struggle and success of those who have come before us, we must also use this occasion to reflect upon ourselves and how we can each lead a life that honors the sacrifice of our ancestors," said Congressman Bishop. "For Juneteenth is not only an annual reminder of the end of a dark period in our nation's history, but a chance to rejoice at how far we have come as a society and contemplate how far we have yet to go. It is a celebration of freedom!"

On June 19, 1865, two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation; Union Troops seized control of Galveston, Texas and declared all slaves free. Since then, Juneteenth has been nationally and internationally observed as the end of slavery in the United States for those who did not receive the news of emancipation until June of 1865.

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