Equal Ground statement on the 2025 celebration of Juneteenth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Feldman Strategies, team@feldmanstrategies.com

FLORIDA – Genesis Robinson, Executive Director of Equal Ground Education Fund– the preeminent Black-led, non-partisan, non-profit working to build Black political power in Florida – released the following statement on Juneteenth 2025.: 

"Long before Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, it held a sacred place in Black communities across this nation. It was a day of reflection, remembrance, and celebration, rooted in the enduring pride we carry for our ancestors’ resilience and the generations of Black Americans who have fought for freedom against all odds.

For us, Juneteenth has always been more than a moment in history. It has been a spiritual and cultural anchor, a yearly reminder that, even in the face of slavery, segregation, and systemic oppression, Black people have persisted, resisted, and triumphed. It has always been a source of great pride in Black culture, but we have known all along that it should be a source of pride for all Americans.

Juneteenth represents the moment when America took a step closer to becoming what it claims to be: a nation built on freedom and justice for all. It is the start of America beginning to live up to its founding promises, however imperfectly and incompletely. That is why we celebrate. Not because the journey is over, but because it began, and we are still marching forward.

And yet, there are those who refuse to acknowledge this truth. They’ve made the decision to ignore this history rather than honor it. Their refusal to meaningfully recognize Juneteenth, while simultaneously attacking Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, is not accidental; it is a calculated attempt to erase the contributions, struggles, and humanity of Black Americans.

But no matter how loud the voices of denial become, the truth cannot be silenced. Slavery was real. Its legacy still shapes our nation. And the story of emancipation is not just Black history, it is American history.

On this Juneteenth, we choose to celebrate. We celebrate the freedom delayed but never denied. We celebrate the strength of our ancestors and the brilliance of our culture. And we celebrate the fact that Black Americans have never stopped pushing this country to be better, more honest, and more just.

Juneteenth is not only a commemoration of the past, it is a call to the future. One that demands we continue the work of liberation, equity, and truth for all people.

Because a free Black America brings us all closer to a truly free America.

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***To schedule interviews with Equal Ground Executive Director Genesis Robinson, email team@feldmanstrategies.com.***