SACRAMENTO – Today, Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) issued the following statement in commemoration of the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth:
“Juneteenth marks the day when slaves in Texas learned they were free, two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This day is an important time to reflect on the evils of slavery in our history. It is also a celebration of a time when good prevailed in our country. Republicans take pride in our party’s historical role in ending slavery and promoting civil rights, including admiration for President Abraham Lincoln, the founder of our party who freed slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation.
“As the Party of Lincoln, Republicans have always stood for the promise of a more united America. The Republican Party pioneered the right of women to vote and was consistent in its support throughout the long campaign for acceptance. Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower forced the desegregation of schools in the South, and Republicans overwhelmingly supported the Voting Rights and the Civil Rights Act to ensure all Americans would be treated equally.
“Today our Party continues to fight for the equal treatment of Black parents, many of whom are denied the opportunity to choose which school may best serve their children, such as charter schools. As a country, we must uphold these values, listen with respect, provide no tolerance for racism, and demand we are all treated by the content of our character, not by the color of our skin.
“As we commemorate the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, let us empower the Black Community by supporting school choice, greater investments to promote small businesses and jobs, and urge sensible legislation that strengthens all communities of color,” said Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove.