Derell Wilson

Celebrating Juneteenth, Freedom Day

View this email in your browser Dear Neighbor, Thursday, June 19th is Juneteenth! Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in our country. For many years, this important holiday was primarily celebrated in the South but was unknown to others from the rest of the country. However, thanks to great advocacy work, it is now rightfully observed throughout the country, including Connecticut. In 2022, the Connecticut General Assembly voted to make Juneteenth a state holiday - and Norwich was the first in the state to celebrate it in 1989. Several events will be held in town throughout the month to celebrate, including a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall on Thursday at 10 a.m. Contrary to popular belief, the Emancipation Proclamation did not end the practice of slavery in America. It also did not end after the Civil War. On June 19, 1865, 2 months after the Civil War ended, a group of Union soldiers traveled to Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people were now free. They were among the last group of Americans to be notified of their freedom. Although Juneteenth celebrates a momentous event in our history, we must also take time to reflect on the horrors of slavery and its lingering effects on our society. As your state representative, I will continue to push for legislation that will make Connecticut a better state for all. If you have any questions about Juneteenth, its history, and how it has been celebrated around the country, please check out this page from the National Museum of African American History and Culture. As always, if I can be of assistance, please reach out to me at 860-240-8585 or email me at Derell.Wilson@cga.ct.gov. Sincerely, Derell Wilson State Representative  Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.