NYS Division of Human Rights Celebrates Juneteenth Featuring Leah Penniman
This weekend, New York State will celebrate Juneteenth and commemorate the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans in the United States in 1865. We also use this occasion to honor the perseverance and achievements of African Americans in the long struggle for civil rights, both before and after the end of slavery.
The Division of Human Rights was created nearly 80 years later in furtherance of that struggle. Each day we work to eliminate discrimination, remedy injustice, and promote equal opportunity, access, and dignity through enforcement of the Human Rights Law.
The tragic mass shooting in Buffalo just a few weeks ago reminds us of the necessity of that mission and that the hate and violence directed towards African Americans has not disappeared. However, New Yorkers from across the State are also working to combat this history of bias and discrimination. Watch this video from DHR as we explore Juneteenth, the struggle for African American civil rights, and the valuable work of New Yorkers today to eliminate discrimination.