It was a long time coming, but President Joe Biden signed the document that finally made Juneteenth a federal holiday. The newly-recognized holiday honors Black joy, Black resilience and Black power and reminds us that the struggle for equality that so many have fought and died for is an ongoing movement and much work remains to be done.
Working people across the country came together to celebrate Juneteenth and declare proudly that Black Lives Matter. Here are the words, events and actions from those honoring Juneteenth in it's first year as an official federal holiday:
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka:
Today’s historic signing by @POTUS making #Juneteenth a federal holiday is a recognition of Black power and a reflection of America’s ongoing journey to tell our nation’s story. pic.twitter.com/DQ6C9dpt8d
— Richard Trumka (@RichardTrumka) June 17, 2021
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler:
On this day in 1865, enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas learned they were free. 156 years later we celebrate #Juneteenth and reaffirm labor’s fight to uproot systemic racism and white supremacy. pic.twitter.com/obZRuyZYFr
— Liz Shuler (@lizshuler) June 19, 2021
A. Philip Randolph Institute:
Tomorrow is day 2!! pic.twitter.com/CAxVswLyt0
— APRI National (DC) (@APRI_National) June 18, 2021
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists:
Happy #JuneTeenth2021 pic.twitter.com/TqXzhTHXGt
— CBTU (@CBTU72) June 19, 2021
Actor's Equity:
We know that theatre professionals thrive on collaboration, and we can put that spirit to work creating a more just industry together. To that end, we have an always-growing collection of resources to help our colleagues navigate their inclusion journeys.https://t.co/8fcGKnVTQB pic.twitter.com/8OfToEpvau
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) June 20, 2021
AFSCME:
As we celebrate the end of slavery & African American history & culture, we must remember racial justice & economic justice are intertwined. Through efforts to defeat things like "right-to-work" laws, we can equalize the playing field & demand a just & fair future for us all. pic.twitter.com/wObSAsqjmZ
— AFSCME (@AFSCME) June 18, 2021
AFSCME Council 4:
The Council 4 Civil Rights Committee honored a Tuskegee Airman and Buffalo Soldier by presenting plaques to their local family members. The movie may have been rained out but the Juneteenth celebration continued on with dancing, food & fellowship. #JuneTeenth2021 pic.twitter.com/ZCLlgtznOy
— Council 4 AFSCME (@AFSCMECT4) June 19, 2021
AFGE:
The labor movement knows firsthand the economic disparities that persist for Black Americans in our workplaces. We must be a voice for all who live and work in these United States and to say out loud the names of those who were taken from us by racist violence. #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/1JM6lTnb7h
— AFGE (@AFGENational) June 19, 2021
Amalgamated Transit Union:
— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) June 19, 2021
American Federation of Musicians:
Today the nation celebrates Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in 🇺🇸.
— AFM (@The_AFM) June 19, 2021
Celebrate Freedom! BLM ✊🏾 💯 pic.twitter.com/HBS6fX6oDR
American Federation of Teachers (AFT):
In this @sharemylesson collection, learn more about why June 19, 1865, is the date we recognize and celebrate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. #Juneteenth https://t.co/aRFTGLE0lX pic.twitter.com/kJNEQISZ3N
— AFT (@AFTunion) June 19, 2021
AFT President Randi Weingarten:
The @AFTunion's new campaign, “Stamping Out Racism and Hate,” is distributing hundreds of free books about the history of racism and how it affects our lives today. Read more about our partnership with @FirstBook & @NAACP. https://t.co/UZYGnOPAO8
— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) June 19, 2021
American Postal Workers Union:
Update on #JuneTeenth & postal workers: Since our original article was posted, postal management issued a statement from USPS Headquarters that is an indication that this issue will be positively resolved in the future. https://t.co/L6ZELFq21E
— APWU National (@APWUnational) June 18, 2021
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
Today, June 19, marks the 156th anniversary of #JuneTeenth, otherwise known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, marking the freeing of the last enslaved Black people in the United States. pic.twitter.com/zZYiSHdrtc
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) June 19, 2021
BCTGM:
#juneteenth #1u #racialjustice #freedomday #jubileeday #liberationday #emancipationday pic.twitter.com/srusxzU0E8
— BCTGM International (@BCTGM) June 19, 2021
Communications Workers of America:
Happening now: CWA's Juneteenth Celebration!
— CWA (@CWAUnion) June 19, 2021
Join us and be part of the working people's movement for racial justice.
Watch live on Facebook: https://t.co/iNrmq96GD7 pic.twitter.com/dbL6ttQsFX
Fire Fighters:
— IAFF (@IAFFNewsDesk) June 18, 2021
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:
IFPTE Applauds Recognition of #Juneteenth National Independence Day as Federal Holiday #1u https://t.co/OP72BE0YhR
— IFPTE (@IFPTE) June 18, 2021
Ironworkers:
#juneteenth pic.twitter.com/WioCfMKWYn
— Ironworkers. (@TheIronworkers) June 20, 2021
Laborers:
"The broad bipartisan support for Juneteenth in Congress is both commendable & reassuring...#LIUNA urges lawmakers to be equally clear-eyed & open to policy solutions to address the sins of the present..."
— LIUNA (@LIUNA) June 19, 2021
More: https://t.co/wRbWkUMsaG pic.twitter.com/roZaCwghLb
Machinists:
America celebrates Juneteeth which is now a new Federal holiday. @MachinistsUnion pic.twitter.com/RauuoaDWoK
— IAM District 141 (@IAMDistrict141) June 19, 2021
Mine Workers:
"Let us not only take today but every day to remember how far we still need to go in order for our nation and those who live in it to truly recognize and respect each other as equals." - UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts https://t.co/z8IV4J5sxf
— United Mine Workers (@MineWorkers) June 18, 2021
Musical Artists:
Juneteenth is now a federal holiday. To honor this day beyond a hashtag, AGMA will recommit to exploring the ways our union can better support Black Artists, and the ways in which racism can be unlearned and dismantled in our industries. Full message: https://t.co/5aD6Wuu1Ye pic.twitter.com/kzQPuvUITP
— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) June 18, 2021
National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
In solidarity, NATCA stands with other labor unions and civil rights groups in celebrating the decision to recognize Juneteenth Independence Day as a national holiday. On Juneteenth 2021, NATCA joins in calling for an end to systemic bigotry, discrimination, and racial injustice. pic.twitter.com/VjFM0s8D7z
— NATCA (@NATCA) June 19, 2021
National Nurses United:
Happy #Juneteenth!
— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNurses) June 19, 2021
In the spirit of nurse abolitionist Harriet Tubman, it's a beautiful day to reflect on 🔑 lessons from the movement to abolish slavery, what they mean for the ongoing struggle for freedom, and #nurses' fight to build a society based on care.
🧵1/5 pic.twitter.com/lOnxfso1Dy
NFL Players:
ICYMI: We had an excellent discussion on the history behind #Juneteenth with @tafromga, @bscarlett17, @zbnfl & James Crawford from @consciouskidlib. Listen in ⬇️ https://t.co/9GTYxqp3V2
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) June 19, 2021
Painters and Allied Trades:
None of us are free until all of us are free both inside and outside the workplace. The struggle for freedom for Black Americans continues. #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/tHeM40qJW1
— IUPAT | Pass the PRO Act! (@GoIUPAT) June 19, 2021
Plasterers and Cement Masons:
#OPCMIA congratulates @potus & Congress for making Juneteenth a federal holiday. We recommit ourselves to doing everything in our power to end the wage, wealth & opportunity disparities keeping Black people from equality 156 years after the 1st Juneteenth. https://t.co/ad8Q3ZO2HP
— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) June 19, 2021
UAW:
Tomorrow is Juneteenth, an annual celebration marking the end of slavery in the United States. Learn more about Juneteenth and be on the lookout for more posts from the UAW tomorrow: https://t.co/vvEx3PJXiY
— UAW (@UAW) June 18, 2021
UNITE HERE:
🗣️📢 FIRED UP! Ready to go!
— UNITE HERE 🌈✊🏽 (@unitehere) June 18, 2021
UNITE HERE Freedom Riders representing Locals from across the US together in NOLA for the @BlackVotersMtr pre-launch of the #FreedomRide2021.
Bc WE are the workers & POC who will be the most impacted by these anti-voter laws if we don’t fight back! pic.twitter.com/CsjBNGVf6t
United Food and Commercial Workers:
Today, we observe the first national #Juneteenth Independence Day & commemorate emancipation from slavery.
— UFCW (@UFCW) June 19, 2021
UFCW stands in solidarity with black communities across our nation as we reaffirm our commitment to end systemic racism.#1u #UnionStronghttps://t.co/64G9oCmux6
Utility Workers:
Today is #Juneteenth, an annual celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
— UWUA National (@The_UWUA) June 19, 2021
As union members we must continue to fight against racism, and recognize that the fight for Black lives is linked to building the working-class power we need.#Juneteenth2021 pic.twitter.com/YZFlqasN0z
California Labor Federation:
Today, we celebrate liberation and honor the sacrifices & contributions Black Americans have made to the labor movement.#Juneteenth.#FreedomDay.#JubileeDay.#EmancipationDay.
— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) June 19, 2021
On this day in 1865, all Americans became free from slavery. Yet the struggle for equality continues. pic.twitter.com/w6tE4jHSsI
Gulf Coast (Texas) AFL-CIO:
On this #Juneteenth, Texas is ground zero in the fight for American democracy. And only by engaging in an honest reckoning with our past can we win that fight and open the door to a new era of racial justice #1uhttps://t.co/69knVULqDE
— Gulf Coast AFL-CIO | Pass the PRO Act! (@gcaflcio) June 19, 2021
Iowa AFL-CIO:
The latest Iowa Daily Labor News! https://t.co/fkyD1X5wwP Thanks to @APWUnational @CWAUnion @UAW #juneteenth #fathersday
— Iowa AFL-CIO (@IowaAFLCIO) June 19, 2021
Minnesota AFL-CIO:
#Juneteenth is a day of profound meaning to Black workers, as it should be to all working people who enjoy and defend the freedom to live our own lives, speak with our own voices and enjoy the fruits of our labor. pic.twitter.com/kWRu1hXoAy
— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) June 19, 2021
Alliance for Retired Americans:
Making sure our elections are fair and safe across the nation is not something that we can wait around on. America needs the Senate to pass both the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4) and S1, the #ForthePeople Act! https://t.co/gsSCRtAlaz
— Alliance for Retired Americans (@ActiveRetirees) June 17, 2021
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance:
The recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday is a reflection of Black power and America’s ongoing journey to tell our nation’s story.
— Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (@APALAnational) June 19, 2021
On Juneteenth, and every day, the labor movement must unite to boldly declare and demonstrate Black Lives Matter to tell that story. ✊🏿✊🏿 pic.twitter.com/2anzuj1RBk
Coalition of Labor Union Women:
On June 19, we commemorate the official freeing of the last enslaved Black people in the United States. The original #Juneteenth celebrations happened on the Texas Gulf Coast, which is the childhood home of George Floyd. pic.twitter.com/LJ6m2eR1W4
— CLUW National (@CLUWNational) June 19, 2021
Jobs With Justice:
Tomorrow is #JuneTeenth2021, the anniversary of Black liberation from slavery in the US.
— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) June 18, 2021
But remember: In 2021, Black workers are *still* fighting for liberation from discriminatory + retaliatory bosses.
We're fighting for real workplace protections -- to be #PROActProud ✊🏿 1/ pic.twitter.com/KhjdsMnWLc
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:
A day for celebration and a reminder that while change is slow, change is still possible! ✊🏼✊🏽✊🏿#Juneteenth #FreedomDay pic.twitter.com/ugc8dpAtkr
— LCLAA (@LCLAA) June 19, 2021
North America's Building Trades Unions:
Today is #Juneteenth2021! This marks the first year that this holiday is recognized federally.
— The Building Trades (@NABTU) June 19, 2021
Interested in learning more about the meaning behind Juneteenth? Check out this informative @NPR article: https://t.co/GVqZa8Slkn
Union Veterans Council:
Today and every day, the Union Veterans Council stands with Black Americans against racism and discrimination. #Juneteenth #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/jje2OR70nN
— Union Veterans Council (@unionveterans) June 19, 2021