Petition update

Ms. Opal Delivers 1.5M Signatures to Congress

Dione Sims
FORT WORTH, TX, United States
Oct 1, 2020

Just as she promised, 93 year-old Opal Lee made her way to Washington, DC on July 23 to take your signature to Capitol Hill to show the nationwide support for making Juneteenth a federal holiday. She made the most of the opportunity by visiting and talking with lawmakers to ensure it was more than just a photo op, but they could really understand the necessity for them to complete the process to make the bill - Juneteenth National Independence Day Act - into law.

Ahead of her walk from Lincoln Park United Methodist Church to the Capitol steps, Ms. Lee met with Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN) and John Cornyn (R-TX) to discuss the unification Juneteenth could bring to the nation as a vehicle to get conversations started about the racial inequalities and disparities in education, jobs, healthcare, housing and law enforcement policy. She asked Sen. Cornyn what other options did the bill have since it failed to secure a unanimous vote in July because of the lone 'NO' vote of Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) and if he could get her a conversationn with Johnson. Sen. Cornyn responded with the policy options available and asked his staff to work on connecting Ms. Opal and Johnson.

Her state Representative Marc Veasey (TX-33) hosted her at the House Triangle Park for the press conference where fellow members Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Shelia Jackson-Lee (TX-18) spoke about the importance of commemorating the end of slavery, not just for Texans but for all those enslaved across the nation. She presented each of them their portion of the signatures and mailed the remaining 1.2 million to Sen. Johnson so he could physically see the support for the legislation.

Ms. Opal called on everyone "to be a committee of one" to let someone else know about Juneteenth and to sign the petition because she wants to bring another 1.5 million signatures to Congress in January 2020 if the law isn't passed by then.

Special thanks to NJOF, Change.org, INVNT[Group], Combs Enterprises, AVS, Hookfin Enterprises, Niko Brim, Unity Unlimited and all the supporters who made their way to Washington, DC to walk with her and deliver your signature.


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