Congressman Cohen Commemorates Juneteenth

WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), who introduced and passed the first Congressional apology for slavery and Jim Crow discrimination in 2008, released the following statement commemorating Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas learned of their emancipation. Congressman Cohen voted to make Juneteenth a national holiday in 2021.

"I celebrated Juneteenth long before it became a federal holiday because it is such a major milestone in our national history. In 2019, as the chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, I held a symbolic hearing on Juneteenth that year on a bill to create a reparations commission. I was proud to cosponsor the measure making Juneteenth a federal holiday because it sends an important message about facing the sometimes-difficult truths of our history and finding a way to celebrate our journey as a country toward progress and freedom. I hope all find the holiday inspiring."

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