Caribbean-American legislators in New York on Thursday, June 19, joined the nation in celebrating Juneteenth, commemorating “a pivotal moment” in American history.
Juneteenth, observed each year on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery, freeing the last enslaved African Americans in the former Confederate states.
“Though emancipation came in 1865, freedom is still too often delayed for too many in our communities today,” Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, a New York state assembly member and the daughter of Haitian immigrants, told Caribbean Life.
“In this new political climate, we must remain vigilant,” added Bichotte Hermelyn, who represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn. “The increase in federal immigration enforcement and the expanding powers of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency) threaten to criminalize and destabilize Black and Brown immigrant families.
“From detention centers to border checkpoints, systems of racialized control continue to echo the injustices Juneteenth asks us to confront,” she continued, stating that Juneteenth is “not just a federal consideration — it is a mirror.
“It reflects the progress we’ve made and the urgent work to come,” Bichotte Hermelyn said. “We need to ensure equity and progress Black lives in every form — in our schools, with housing, at the ballot box, at the borders, and throughout New York.”
2026 marks the sixth year the United States has recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
Bichotte Hermelyn said this national acknowledgment is “a milestone in Black American history and the continuing struggle for civil rights.”
She said although the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed by President Abraham Lincoln more than two years earlier, on Jan. 1, 1863, “its promise had yet to reach every corner of the divided nation.
“On a summer day in Texas, more than two and a half years later, this arrival finally recognized the emancipation of enslaved people in America — delayed but not denied,” Bichotte Hermelyn said. “Today, Juneteenth invites all Americans to reflect on America’s past, recognize the contributions of Black Americans, and commit to building a more just and equitable future.
“As we remember this American national day, we are reminded that the fight for civil rights did not end in 1865 — and it continues today,” she added. “Just as we celebrate liberation on Juneteenth, we honor the resilient spirit and rich cultures of our Caribbean neighbors this June. May our collective freedom be unshakable, unapologetic, and unstoppable.”
Bichotte Hermelyn’s New York State Assembly colleague, Monique Chandler-Waterman, the daughter of Jamaican and Barbadian immigrants, said that the Juneteenth holiday “celebrates freedom, resilience, progress, and the continued pursuit of equity and opportunity for all.
“This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as New Yorkers celebrate the historic playoff run of the New York Knicks, whose success united communities across generations and neighborhoods,” added the representative for the 58th Assembly District in Brooklyn. “Much like Juneteenth, the excitement surrounding the Knicks reminds us of the power of perseverance, hope, and collective pride in overcoming obstacles and making history.
“As we celebrate Juneteenth, we honor the progress made, recognize the work that remains, and embrace the same spirit of unity and determination that has inspired both generations of freedom fighters and the historic moments that continue to bring our communities together today,” Chandler-Waterman continued.
New York City Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, the Haitian-born representative for the 46th Council District in Brooklyn, said the best way to honor the history of Juneteenth is to “use the right” that fighters for the holiday won.
New York State Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud, the Guyanese-born representative for the 19th Senate District in Brooklyn, urged that, in observing “this important day, let us continue to learn from the past, uplift one another, and work together to advance opportunity, equity, and justice for future generations.”
New York State Assembly Member Brian Cunningham, the son of Jamaican immigrants, said that “Juneteenth reminds us that progress is never automatic.
“It is achieved through the courage, sacrifice, and civic engagement of people who believed in a better future and worked to make it a reality,” said the representative for the 43rd Assembly District in Brooklyn, adding that “one of the most powerful tools we have to honor that legacy is our right to vote.
“Generations of Americans fought to secure and protect the ballot box, understanding that democracy works best when everyone has a voice,” he continued. “Voting is how we shape our communities, hold leaders accountable, and ensure that the needs of our families are heard.”
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 23.
“As we reflect on the meaning of Juneteenth, let us honor those who came before us by exercising the rights they fought so hard to secure,” Cunningham said. “Make a plan to vote. Encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to do the same.
“Together, we can continue the work of building a stronger, more equitable future for all,” he added.
