Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of slaves following the end of the Civil War. June 19th, 1865 was the day that Union soldiers brought news of the war’s end--and the declaration of freedom for all enslaved people--to Galveston, Texas, one of the most remote areas of the country. Slaves there were the last to hear that they were now free people.
In New Jersey...
This year marks the first “official” observation of Juneteenth in New Jersey: last September Governor Murphy signed the legislation making the third Friday in June a state holiday. This means all state government employees are given the day off with pay. The state holiday sets a precedent that also encourages NJ towns, cities and businesses to follow suit.
But there’s more to do. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution states “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” Take a look at that phrase between the commas: “except as punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.” It basically says, “If you’re imprisoned, you’re a slave.” The prison system can demand that you work, decide your pay, and set penalties for resistance. The opportunity to use incarcerated people as slaves has fed the prison system, motivating the arrest and incarceration of people of color as a source of free or cheap labor, for the past 150 years. The Prison Policy Initiative placed the minimum estimated annual value of incarcerated labor (from U.S. prisons as well as jails) at $2 billion.
Take Action…
This Juneteenth, we urge you to celebrate by pushing for complete abolition at both the state and Federal level. In New Jersey, write to your state senator and assembly member and let them know you support the proposed constitutional amendment NJ SCR96 (20R) banning slavery and involuntary servitude for all citizens, including those who are incarcerated. At the national level, let your representatives know that you support the so-called Abolition Amendment, a joint resolution introduced by Democrats in the House and Senate last year.
F.O.R.T.E. House is pleased that New Jersey is honoring the emancipation of slaves. But until every person--including those being held in jails and prisons--are granted true freedom from forced labor and involuntary servitude, the work of abolition is not done.
