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Today we celebrate Juneteenth which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865, when the Emancipation Proclamation was finally enforced in Texas. Juneteenth is largely credited to the grassroots efforts of human rights activist and educator Opal Lee, a Texas native dedicated to education and human rights. While Juneteenth began in Texas, Ms. Lee believed it would unify the nation to celebrate the abolition of slavery. In 2016, at age 89, she walked 1,400 miles from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C. to garner support from Congress to name Juneteenth a national holiday. “Opal’s Walk 2 DC” brought national attention to the petition supporting the holiday, and in 2021, her vision became a reality. Often referred to as the “grandmother of Juneteenth,” Ms. Lee was honored earlier this year with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her initiatives. Opal Lee’s determination, tenacity and boundless energy serve as a powerful reminder that freedom is worth fighting for and hope is our most powerful weapon. In celebration of Juneteenth, we acknowledge the progress that has been made as well as the need to continue building on those foundations.

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