Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams issued the following statement in commemoration of Independence Day, the Fourth of July.
"The Fourth of July is and has long been a day of celebration for this country. For many, it is a celebration of our professed values, a reminder of our centuries of working toward a more just society. For my family, it is the day that over five decades ago, my mother arrived in this country from the tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou & Petit-Martinique.
"This holiday is commemorated as Independence Day. But as Juneteenth reminded us just weeks ago, it was not an independence day for all. When the Declaration of Independence was first authored, and as our country extolled the virtues of freedom and liberty, the values underpinning that document applied only to a select few. In fact, they were used to justify the legal enslavement of Africans, genocide of Native Americans, and the second-class citizenry offered to women. In 2020, we see the effects of a country still unable to reckon with dichotomy of what the holiday means. Sadly, so many are openly and defiantly determined to move us backward from any gains made. That includes the President of the United States.
"For me, on this day when I think of the pursuit of liberty, justice, equity, and of happiness - I think of the pursuit that brought my mother here fifty years ago and which continues today. While we may not enjoy our usual traditions, we can celebrate that spirit, find happiness with our families, and continue that pursuit. Independence doesn't come solely from a declaration. It's a process that still continues, and a renewed commitment to fighting oppression is required if we are ever to achieve the values discussed today."
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