What's on Our Mind 6-18-2021

What's On Our Mind

This Saturday is Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the emancipation of American slaves. Congress has now designated it as a federal holiday, thereby calling attention to the end of a dark period in American history. 

Juneteenth is a grave reminder that equality, justice, and freedom are not guaranteed. Our journey in pursuit of civil rights does not end with a holiday, rather it is ongoing.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled that religious organizations can discriminate against same-sex couples seeking to adopt. The Court is enabling religion to be used to deny civil rights.

Also this week, Texas banned public schools from teaching critical race theory which examines how race and racism have shaped American history and present-day society. 

Acts of violence based on religion and ethnicity have dramatically risen in the U.S. and around the world. The ADL found that 60 percent of American Jews have personally witnessed antisemitism just this month. The Asian American community has experienced a spike in hate crimes against them as well.

States across the country continue to pass restrictive voting laws aimed to keep Black people from voting. At the same time, these states’ anti-abortion laws are denying women access to the full range of reproductive health care. Even the right to have law enforcement protect our citizens equally under the law is uncertain.

It is critical that Congress immediately pass legislation to protect women, minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination. The Senate must pass the For the People Act (HR 1), Equality Act (HR 5), Women’s Health Protection Act (S 1975), and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 (HR 1280).

We will never reach our full potential as a democracy until there is equality for everyone. This is why JAC tirelessly works to elect candidates who believe that civil rights and freedoms are rights for everyone, not a just a privilege for a few.

Support JAC candidates today.