MADISON, WI – Today, Representative Shelia Stubbs attended Governor Evers’ raising of the Juneteenth flag over the Wisconsin State Capitol. Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) released the following statement:
“It was an honor to stand beside Governor Evers and other esteemed members of the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus and the community today as we raised the Juneteenth flag over the Wisconsin State Capitol. I was honored to be personally thanked by Governor Evers for my assistance with this year’s program.
Every year, I request that the Juneteenth flag be raised over the State Capitol, and every year that the Governor raises the flag, I think of my ancestors and their eternal resilience.
I would like to honor and recognize the work of Mrs. Annie Weatherby-Flowers, founder of the first annual Juneteenth celebration in Madison. It is thanks to her dedication that we were able to gather today and raise the flag. This is meant to be a day of joy, one where everyone should be allowed to come and share in our celebration. Mrs. Weatherby-Flowers was able to perform today’s libation, which is an integral part of our celebration.
We also had the privilege of welcoming Reverend Joseph Baring Jr., who performed the invocation, and Evangelist Meme Davis of End Time Ministries International who performed the Black National Anthem. I would like to give them special thanks for their contributions to today’s program, and to give thanks to everyone in the audience who was able to join us for the raising of the flag.
I would also like to honor Ms. Opal Lee, who is known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth because of her courageous walk campaign to the White House in an effort to get the holiday federally recognized.
In addition, I honor and recognize the memory of the late Dr. Reverend Ronald Myers: Father of the Modern Day Juneteenth Movement and a graduate of our flagship university, UW-Madison. Although Dr. Reverend Myers passed away before the federal recognition of the Juneteenth holiday, his legacy lives on through this and every Juneteenth observance.
Juneteenth is more than a historical event; it is the promise of enduring progress and liberty for African Americans across our nation. This holiday stands as a testament to the victory of our ancestors over the horrors of slavery and creates a legacy that we in turn bestow on the coming generations. In the words of Dr. Reverend Myers, ‘In America we haven’t dealt with our slave legacy. Juneteenth gives an opportunity to constructively confront that legacy with a celebration of freedom’”
