Statement on Juneteenth
Statement of Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As our nation celebrates Juneteenth as a federal holiday for the first time, we join in commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, and stand alongside those who continue to fight for full equity and justice for Black Americans – including the health and safety of our communities.
As we mark this solemn but joyous occasion, we recognize that it must be accompanied by urgent action to eradicate systemic barriers to opportunity and true freedom. This past year has brought too many reminders that systemic racism touches nearly every aspect of our lives, including in our own work to end the tobacco industry’s predatory targeting of Black people.
At the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, we remain committed to a movement for Black lives that acknowledges our nation’s fraught history while remaining hopeful for a more equitable and healthier future for all.