Party Features

Juneteenth 2007: A Democratic Celebration of Progress

Posted by Mike on Tuesday, June 19

Kool and the Gang's "Celebrate Good Times" is the song Petersburg's Soul Unlimited Band used to kick off the dancing portion of the Democratic Black Caucus Juneteenth celebration Saturday (June 16th) night. The good times worth celebrating are the more than 100 years worth of African-American accomplishments since President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

 

Of course, the Juneteenth celebration is in honor of the liberation of the last slaves to be freed... more than two-and-a-half years after the end of the Civil War. In fact, Dr. Sheila Johnson, the evening's guest speaker, pointed out it was exactly two years, six months and 8 days. And while Johnson, co-founder and former owner of Black Entertainment Television, admitted she finds it terribly disturbing that it took that long for all slaves to be set free, she urged African-Americans not to use it as an excuse but to use it as motivation to move forward and achieve more.

 

Moving forward and progress are what the Democratic Party of Virginia is all about. From transportation to education opportunities, the DPVA is working for the issues Virginians care about most.

 

State lawmakers like Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, DPVA Vice Chair Jennifer McClellan, Sen. Creigh Deeds, Del. Brian Moran, and Del. Lionel Spruill were in attendance to support the Juneteenth celebration, along with local officials from around the state like Nelson County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Connie Brennan, Prince Edward County Supervisor Lacy Ward, and City of Petersburg Commonwealth Attorney Cassandra Burns.

 

Even Governor Kaine joined by video message, thanking Democrats for working hard to achieve the Education Week distinction of being the state where children have a better chance of success than they would have if they had been born in any other state in the country. He also encouraged the election of more lawmakers who will work with him to tackle tough challenges in education, health care, transportation and public safety.



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