Health Care for ALL Oregon Sends Juneteenth Wishes to All Oregonians

Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, or, sometimes, Black Independence Day.

The origin of those names derives from the fact that it was a full two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation before the last of America’s enslaved people in Texas learned of that historic event and Juneteenth was born.

Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, making it the 11th federal holiday. It is an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made as a country since 1865 and celebrate our victories in our quest for a more perfect union. Today, we ask you to join us as we commemorate Juneteenth.

In 1966,100 years after Juneteenth was recognized, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said:

“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death.”

Those words resonate strongly with our movement and we realize that racism is a public health crisis. HCAO recognizes that it is time to recommit our energy to dismantle systemic racism so we can eliminate health disparities and create the just and equitable health system we all need and deserve.

HCAO is in the battle for justice. And we know you are too.

Today we celebrate justice and freedom for Black Americans, and continue the battle for justice and freedom in health care.

In Solidarity,

HCAO President