Dear Mayor Martin J. Walsh and members of the Boston City Council,

As the souls of black folk cry across the nation, Black Bostonians value the City’s dedication to supporting the black community beyond just this moment. As we aim for massive reform to racist structures and institutions, such as defunding the police, we can take IMMEDIATE action by honoring Juneteenth. 

While change is often slow, we request that we push beyond the normalcy of City bureaucracy to declare Juneteenth a PAID City holiday effective June 19th, 2020. 

Juneteenth, which is this Friday, June 19, 2020, is a holiday to honor the day on which the last black enslaved people were liberated in the United States. From the Boston Tea Party to immigration reform, Boston has challenged the status quo to ensure human rights for its constituents. While we recognize the City Council often observes “Juneteenth Day'' through a resolution, we would be remiss if we did not join institutions like Harvard; other cities such as Chicago, Philadelphia, Portland; states (Virginia); and major companies such as Target, US Bank, and Best Buy, that have declared and work towards Juneteenth as a City holiday.

If we, the City of Boston, can publicly state the importance of Juneteenth but cannot recognize it as a paid holiday -- which is a minor change to honor and commemorate the major sacrifices of enslaved Africans in America, can we really consider our City anti-racist?

Sincerely, 

We Are The Ones and the People