{"id":24907,"date":"2022-06-18T17:08:18","date_gmt":"2022-06-18T21:08:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=24907"},"modified":"2022-06-18T17:08:18","modified_gmt":"2022-06-18T21:08:18","slug":"uaw-president-ray-curry-statement-juneteenth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=24907","title":{"rendered":"UAW President Ray Curry statement on Juneteenth | UAW"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation which freed more than three million enslaved people in the United States, mostly in the Confederate states.\u00a0 It took another two and a half years and the surrender of the Confederate army before it became a reality for the enslaved people in Texas.\u00a0 On June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, TX, secured the state and informed them that they were free.<\/p>\n

June 19th has come to symbolize a day of freedom and unity. It is a day to reflect on our past with honesty and hope for tomorrow. Although the U.S. celebrates July 4th as its Independence Day, the reality is that the entire nation was not free at that time.\u00a0 Slavery and the laws that allowed African Americans to be abused were evil practices.\u00a0 Our nation is still haunted by that time as there are remnants of these injustices which still plague cities throughout our country.<\/p>\n

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about letting freedom ring. Yet we still have police shootings of unarmed African American men, unequal applications of justice and disparities in housing and education.\u00a0 Juneteenth is a day to remember that the rights of all must be defended.\u00a0 That social and economic justice and access to voting applies to all.<\/p>\n

In 2021, President Biden officially recognized June 19th as a federal holiday codifying its importance in American history.\u00a0 Juneteenth now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with other federal holidays.\u00a0 No doubt we will see the importance of this day reflected in more and more bargaining agreements going forward.<\/p>\n

The UAW supports diversity and inclusion and continues to represent all people.\u00a0 We believe that liberty and justice is for all.\u00a0 That was our mission when our union was founded, and it remains so today. I encourage you to find a local activity to support Juneteenth.<\/p>\n

\u201cJuneteenth Plaque<\/a>\u201d by William C Teller<\/a>\u00a0is licensed under\u00a0CC BY 2.0<\/a>.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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