Dear Friend,
We know across the United States that the fight for equality, especially against racial discrimination has progressed, but is far from realized.
In 1865 on June 19th, Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger led a force of soldiers to Galveston, Texas to deliver the message that the Civil War was finally over, the Union had won, and it now had the people power to enforce the end of slavery. The announcement came two months after the conclusion of the Civil War, and even longer since Abraham Lincoln had first signed the Emancipation Proclamation. And yet, many enslaved Black people in Texas still weren’t free, even after that day.
In the context of Florida — in 1845 almost half the state’s population were enslaved African Americans working on large cotton and sugar
This is a history we cannot forget. Today, it is our responsibility to recognize our nation’s past and to acknowledge how far we still have to go in the fight towards true equality for all people and families, especially for Black Americans.
This weekend we were honored to participate in several Juneteenth events, including the inaugural Juneteenth Parade in the Historical Town of Eatonville. During legislative session, I am proud to advocate for policies that support all people, and against things like book banning, voter suppression, DEI bans, and mass incarceration.
We must continue to keep fighting for a better, brighter, and more prosperous Florida.
Onward,
Anna