Saunders: Let Juneteenth, our 2nd Independence Day, Inspire Action

The Facts -

• • Juneteenth is seen as a moment to celebrate the end of slavery and reflect on the ongoing fight for equality.

• • Black workers continue to struggle for workplace equity even a century after emancipation.

• • Juneteenth serves as a call to action for continuing the fight for true liberty and justice for all.

WASHINGTON - AFSCME President Lee Saunders recognizes Juneteenth with a statement highlighting the ongoing struggle for civil rights and labor equality for Black Americans.

Juneteenth is a moment of both celebration and reflection as we commemorate the end of slavery in America and acknowledge the ongoing fight for Black Americans' freedom. It serves as a stark reminder of the distance we still need to cover.

A century post-emancipation, Black sanitation workers in Memphis battled for dignity and respect at work, underscoring the inseparable ties between civil and labor rights. Their battle cry, 'I AM A MAN', resonates even today as Black workers strive for workplace equity in 2024, organizing against subpar wages and hazardous working conditions - a direct outcome of systemic racism.

By forming robust unions and asserting their rights, Black workers are bridging pay disparities and taking head-on the challenge of eliminating workplace discrimination. Despite this progress, the journey is far from over.

The moral universe's arc still beckons towards justice. Let Juneteenth, hailed as our nation's second Independence Day, inspire action, education, organization, and mobilization towards true liberty and justice for all.

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