[Madison, WI] – In celebration of Juneteenth, The Republican Party of Wisconsin issued the following statement from Chairman Andrew Hitt:
“Today, Americans join in celebrating the 155th anniversary of the day when the news President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation finally made it to Americans enslaved in Galveston, Tx, marking the end of slavery in the United States. While this proclamation meant the end of slavery in the United States, our collective fight to ensure freedom and opportunity for all must continue.
“Earlier today, the Republican Party of Wisconsin issued a statement from Gerard Randall, the Chair of the African American Council of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. In part, Gerard’s statement read, ‘By working together, we have made great progress, and we must continue that work to ensure Wisconsin is the best place in America to live, work, and raise a family.’
“Gerard’s words highlight the work he has done in his community to advocate for policies that will ensure more opportunities and freedoms for all Wisconsinites. Gerard has been a tireless leader and advocate in his community for decades, and I am so grateful for his leadership in the Republican Party of Wisconsin. Thanks to Gerard’s work, the Republican Party of Wisconsin opened the first office of its kind in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Milwaukee, allowing us to further engage in communities where we have not been present enough in the past.
“At the same time, we need to recognize that the Republican Party needs to do more to engage with the black community and celebrate important occasions such as today’s. Developing better public policy and instituting change comes from having a better understanding of the challenges these community members face and being a part of the community. We aren’t going to find answers to the issues we’re facing without engaging in open and honest dialogue. We must recognize our failures and continue to commit ourselves to do better.”
