WASHINGTON - Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus and Co-Chairman Sharon Day released the following statement on the celebration of Juneteenth:
“Today we celebrate Juneteenth, a day that marks the abolition of slavery in Texas in 1865 and is celebrated across the country to commemorate the end of that terrible chapter in our nation’s history,” said Chairman Priebus.
“Our first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, but slaves in Texas did not hear the news until June 19, 1865. Juneteenth was cause for great joy for a newly free people 148 years ago, and today communities and cities will gather to recall that joy.”
“This is also a chance for Americans of all backgrounds to honor African American heritage and to recommit ourselves to the values of justice and equality,” said Co-Chairman Day. “The work of achieving a ‘more perfect union’ is never finished. Our past reminds us that we must always strive for a better future, where freedom and equal opportunity are guaranteed for all.”
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