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Today marks the 156th anniversary of Juneteenth, the day that slavery ended in the United States. On this day in 1865, enslaved people living in Texas learned of their freedom with the arrival of Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas. Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which granted over three million enslaved people their freedom, those residing in Texas were not informed that slavery had been abolished until two years later, on June 19, 1865.

Today, we celebrate liberation.

We celebrate the enslaved people who built this country. We celebrate those who were once in bondage, surviving enslavement. We celebrate their descendants who have and continue to influence and shape American culture. We celebrate the tenacity and courage of African-American communities, and the complexity, depth, and richness of Black history.

On this day, we recognize the progress we have made, and the work we still need to do to end injustice. This day is also a reminder that the legacy of slavery continues to plague our society and that Black Americans continue to face structural barriers as a result. It’s up to all of us to continue to work to right historic wrongs, end discrimination, stop hate in its tracks, and provide justice.

At OAG, I’m proud that we work every day to accomplish these goals. One of the ways we’re doing that is by fighting for the civil rights of District residents. Established in 2019, OAG’s Civil Rights Section investigates and brings lawsuits to challenge discriminatory policies and practices that harm District residents. We bring lawsuits to challenge discrimination, advocate for legislation to strengthen anti-discrimination laws, and engage in educational community outreach so that residents know their rights.

In 2019, we held several Civil Rights Listening Sessions across the District to hear from residents about their civil rights concerns and to help the Civil Rights Section define its priorities. Learn more about the District’s civil rights protections and how OAG is working to enforce them.

Today, let’s celebrate the progress we’ve made in the past 156 years, and also remind ourselves of the work we still need to do.

Together, we can continue to make progress.