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NALC President Brian L. Renfroe issued the following statement:

Today, NALC joins all Americans in honoring and celebrating Juneteenth, a meaningful national holiday that celebrates freedom and commemorates the final emancipation of enslaved Black Americans.

On this day in 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to finally enforce President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – more than two years after it was issued. This monumental and historic day of liberation has long been celebrated by Black Americans on June 19 each year. Thankfully, Juneteenth is now celebrated by all Americans after it became a federal holiday in 2021.

While this day marking abolition and freedom is a time for celebration, reflection and reconciliation, we must also recognize and confront our nation’s painful legacy. This includes acknowledging the pain Black Americans and other people of color have experienced in our nation’s past, and the ways this has shaped our present. As we honor the Black community’s contributions to this country and celebrate freedom on this day, NALC reaffirms our commitment to continuing our work toward true racial equality in our workplace, our union and in America. We stand in solidarity with the ongoing fight to realize our nation’s promise of freedom, liberty and opportunity for all.

On behalf of NALC, I wish everyone a happy Juneteenth.