By Bob Katzen
Juneteenth, which was celebrated last week on June 19th, commemorates more than 250,000 slaves in Texas learning of their freedom on June 19, 1865. The date came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, the same year it was celebrated as a state holiday for the first time in Massachusetts. Former Gov. Charlie Baker signed the holiday into law in July 2020.
The Massachusetts Legislature’s Black and Latino Legislative Caucus celebrated the holiday at the Statehouse. Here are some of the quotes from the event:
“We have come a long way, and it’s our turn at this point to have the baton in our hand. And if we don’t, and we don’t use the power we have today, after all the sacrifices that were made in the past, shame on us.”
—Rep. Russell Holmes (D-Boston), the longest-serving member of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.
“When our values are attacked and our communities are disrespected, we will stand up and say loudly and proudly: ‘We believe in diversity, we believe in equity, we believe with every fiber of our being that the Black community belongs at the table, in the boardroom, in our colleges, running our businesses and leading our government.’”
—Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll.
“One of the great things Trump is going to give us is the urgency to keep fighting, to keep pressing, to not lay down when he makes these inane comments that make no sense, when he starts threatening taking funding. We will do the best we can to make sure no one is left behind.”
—House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy).
“We know that the path is stormy ahead. But we know, too, that we have to celebrate days like today to make sure that our voices are heard all the way to Washington, D.C., that diversity, equity and inclusion are important. DEI is a Massachusetts value that will never, ever change.”
—Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland).
“This year is not like every other year. When we celebrate this holiday, we must recognize what is happening around us.”
—Tomas O’Brien, executive director of the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.