Honoring Juneteenth: Freedom, Justice, and the Work Ahead

Today, we commemorate Juneteenth—the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth is a celebration of Black liberation and a sobering reminder that justice delayed is justice denied.

For labor, Juneteenth calls us to reflect on our shared struggle. The labor movement and the civil rights movement are deeply intertwined—from the Black sanitation workers in Memphis who marched for dignity and union rights, to the workers today organizing for equity in public and private sectors alike.

At AFSCME Local 101, we know that true freedom includes economic justice: fair wages, safe workplaces, and the right to organize. That work continues, and it must center racial justice if we’re serious about building a future where everyone is free.

We honor the past by fighting for the future. Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we organize.