OPINION: Renew commitment to justice on Juneteenth

This Juneteenth, we honor a powerful moment in American history, in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African Americans that they were finally free, more than two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It was a delayed freedom, withheld by those who refused to recognize the humanity and rights of Black Americans. And today, that delay echoes in the struggles many of our communities still face.

Juneteenth is more than a historic celebration. It’s a reflection of how freedom has always been contested, how justice has often been delayed, and how those in power have too often failed to uphold the promises of liberty and equality for all. While we gather in remembrance and joy, we must also be honest, the struggle for full freedom continues and yes, it continues under the current administration.

Across America today, the rights of everyday people are being chipped away by leaders who campaign on division, govern through fear, and prioritize the powerful over the people. From the ongoing erosion of reproductive rights, to the militarization of our border communities, to the attacks on public education and honest teaching of our history, it is clear that many in power are not committed to expanding freedom, instead they are working to control and restrict it.

For Black Americans, the fight for liberation has never ended. It’s evolved from chains and plantations to voter suppression and mass incarceration, from Jim Crow laws to environmental racism, from redlining to economic inequality. And under this administration, these challenges have not disappeared, instead they’ve been made worse by policies that favor corporations over communities, and by rhetoric that fans the flames of division.

But just as in 1865, the power of the people cannot be denied. Across the nation, communities are rising up to fight for justice and equity. Organizers, educators, young leaders and everyday citizens are demanding a country that finally lives up to its ideals. They are standing for fair wages, clean air and water, affordable housing, social justice, and the right to be heard and counted.

Juneteenth teaches us that freedom must be fought for and that those in power don’t give it freely. It must be claimed, defended and expanded by those bold enough to believe in a better future. That’s what this holiday demands of us, not just remembrance, but action.

So, this Juneteenth, as we raise flags and sing songs of freedom, let us also renew our commitment to justice. Let us speak truth to power and call out injustice no matter who sits in the White House or holds the gavel. Let us remember that freedom delayed is still freedom worth fighting for and that together, we can ensure the spirit of Juneteenth lives not just in our celebrations, but in the policies we pursue and the future we build.

Freedom is not a finished project. It is our shared responsibility.