President Pinto calls for national Juneteenth holiday

University of Cincinnati President Neville G. Pinto marked the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth with the following statement, released via Twitter:

"Today marks Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, a date long celebrated to commemorate the delayed emancipation of slaves. While most states recognize it as a holiday or special observance, it is not yet an official federal holiday. I concur with the voices that have called on the United States to make Juneteenth a date that all Americans celebrate as one united nation. Such a declaration would serve as an acknowledgment of our flawed history, the savagery of bondage and our difficult but essential path toward true liberty and equity. We must deliver on the promise of freedom through our deeds and actions, so that all our citizens can truly enjoy the benefits of being American.  Against a backdrop of nation-wide protests and glaring systemic inequities, I urge our university community to dedicate time today for learning, self-reflection and making a renewed commitment to racial justice."