Remarks by Vice President Harris at CNN’s Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom

Greek Theatre

Los Angeles, California

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good evening, everyone.  Good evening.  (Applause.)  Good evening.  And Happy Juneteenth.  (Applause.)

So, tonight, with joy, we gather with friends and family to celebrate America’s newest national holiday.  (Applause.)

So when I served in the United States Senate, I was proud to co-sponsor a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.  (Applause.)  And as Vice President, it was my honor to stand beside our President, Joe Biden, as he signed the legislation that finally made that dream a reality.  (Applause.)

Today, Americans from all walks of life come together to celebrate Juneteenth to honor Black excellence, culture, and community — (applause) — to remember our nation’s full history, and to celebrate one of our founding principles, the principle of freedom.  (Applause.)

America is a promise — a promise of freedom, liberty, and justice.  The story of Juneteenth, as we celebrate it, is the story of our ongoing fight to realize America’s promise — not for some, but for all.  (Applause.)

So as we gather tonight, let us remember the words of the great Coretta Scott King: The fight for civil rights must be fought and won with each generation.  She reminds us that our freedoms will not be permanent unless we, in each generation, are vigilant to protect them.  (Applause.)

So let us all stand together as Americans to teach and honor our history, to protect our liberty, and to continue the fight for freedom.  (Applause.)

Thank you.  May God bless you.  And may God bless the United States of America.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.

And now it is my honor, as a proud HBCU graduate, to welcome to the stage a group of incredible performers from our Divine Nine.  Have a good evening.  (Applause.)

                               END

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