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NALC President Fredric Rolando issued the following statement:

Today, NALC joins all Americans in celebrating a most meaningful national holiday – Juneteenth. Juneteenth is a celebration of Freedom, commemorating the final emancipation of enslaved African Americans.

On this date in 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to finally enforce President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – more than two years after it was issued. This day of liberation has long been celebrated on June 19 each year by Black Americans. It became a federal holiday one year ago when President Biden signed it into law.

Juneteenth provides Americans of all races an occasion to both celebrate human freedom and to reflect on the painful legacy of slavery in our country. It also provides an opportunity to re-commit ourselves to the work of achieving true equality for all Americans.