Elon Law Dean Luke Bierman invited law school students, faculty and staff to reflect on the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth - and then "put into action today’s cause for remembrance" - in an email delivered to the community on June 19, 2020.
Students and colleagues:
I ask that you pause today to reflect on the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, a holiday that carries an even greater significance this year as our nation grows and evolves through the extraordinary impact of the Black Lives Matter movement. The calls for equity and racial justice from millions of Americans in recent days are a reminder that while Juneteenth commemorates the moment when those who were enslaved in Galveston, Texas, learned of the Emancipation Proclamation, the struggle for true freedom in all its forms has never ended.
There are many ways for us to put into action today’s cause for remembrance. We can learn from history why today is important. We can invest in the community and support Black-owned businesses. We can advocate to make Juneteenth a national holiday. We can commit to examining our own beliefs and standing as allies and accomplices in the push to make anti-racism a core value of not only our law school, and not only our profession, but of the very political, cultural, and historical fabric that joins us together. The OCSD newsletter that comes out later today will have resources to help us learn more about Juneteenth if we’re not already fully familiar with this holiday as well as to offer guidance on how we can become more active in effecting the kind of change that is necessary.
Today is indeed an important day to commemorate, but we must remember that the work ahead of us, while daunting, is work we can, must, and will continue to perform as we make our way toward an equitable and just nation. One where all truly are free.
Dean Bierman
Luke Bierman
Dean and Professor of Law
Elon University School of Law