CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH

On 2026-06-11, Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12) delivered a floor speech titled "CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH" in the House.

CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 99 (Thursday, June 11, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 99 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4100-H4101] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH (Ms. TLAIB asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, happy Juneteenth. On Juneteenth, we honor and celebrate both liberation and perseverance. Juneteenth marks the moment when the promise of freedom finally reached the last enslaved Black Americans in Texas more than 2 years after emancipation had been declared. As many of our residents across the country celebrate, we recognize the contributions of many of our Black communities whose labor, leadership, and sacrifices helped build this country. We also remember the struggle for justice did not end on Juneteenth. Each generation has been called to continue the work of expanding opportunity, protecting civil rights, and ensuring that every person is treated with human dignity. Juneteenth is a reminder that freedom must be more than a promise. It [[Page H4101]] must be reflected in our schools, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, and in our democracy. Black neighbors need more than a day, Mr. Speaker. They deserve reparations. Let's celebrate Juneteenth, but let it be a reminder that, again, the future must include real results and real accountability for every family so they can thrive and a community can be valued. ____________________