June 19, 2023
Today, on June 19th, we commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth celebrates the anniversary of the emancipation of the last enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas on June 19th, 1865, when the Union Army fully enforced the Emancipation Proclamation. In 2021, President Biden signed the bipartisan Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, recognizing the importance of the Juneteenth and permanently memorializing the date as a Federal Holiday.
NFFE is proud of our diversity and inclusion of all people from all walks of life. As a union, we are committed to fairness and justice not only in the workplace, but throughout our society. We are devoted to protecting democracy and fighting against efforts to disenfranchise voters and working people. We stand in solidarity as an ally to the Black community, and all who have been marginalized.
Today, we also honor the abolitionists, civil rights leaders, and allies who advocated for change in the face of violence and prosecution. From the founding of our nation to present day, their tireless work and sacrifices have paved the way for a better way of life for many Black Americans. As a country, we must continue this activism so that the United States holds true to the core values of the Declaration of Independence: that all people are created equal, with the unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.