One of my proudest moments in the Senate was when I helped to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Today, I’m thinking back to the journey of passing that legislation five years ago alongside Dr. Opal Lee.
At 12 years old, Opal Lee’s family home in Texas was burned down by white supremacists.
At 89, she walked from Texas to D.C. to get Juneteenth declared a federal holiday.
We owe today to Ms. Lee’s determination.
More than 40 years ago, I arrived in Chicago in search of an idea. I was a young man looking for purpose, who believed deeply in America, was inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, and wanted to be a part of something larger. The America I believed in was one where everyone has opportunity, everyone is seen, everyone belongs—because that was an America that had a place for me, too.
A new museum and civic center dedicated to former President Barack Obama and his eight years in the White House opened to the public in Chicago, where crowds were seen waiting in line to pose for photos with a sculpture of the former president and his wife Michelle Obama
By taking ZERO shit from the most repulsive misogynist, bully, and pedophile on the planet — Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni just become a heroine around the world.
Not going to lie, the overload of class, dignity, intelligence, humility and grace today at the Obama Presidential Center made me really emotional and angry. It displayed how much US society has fallen.
President Obama was the kind of President you want to see in the White House: smart, steady, honorable, and he led with kindness. He’s a good husband, dad, and role model for our country.
One thing that always stood out to me was his magical combination of being both ultra-competitive and really easygoing. It allowed him to surf the waves of politics, and it taught me a lot about leadership. (He also loved playing with my oldest son when he was just a baby!)
It was a tremendous honor to have his trust to carry the nuclear codes and to be by his side to handle emergencies for the country.
It’s incredible to see his legacy celebrated - I can’t wait to visit the new library!
I love this.
The Obamas honoring Nancy Pelosi with a garden in her name is so well deserved.
Without Nancy Pelosi, there would be no Affordable Care Act.
Opal Lee, described as the "grandmother of the movement,” said that as the 250th birthday of America approaches, people should also remember Juneteenth.
Read more: https://t.co/TY2s1BRO1w
Thank you President Obama for speaking about the extraordinary courage of the people of Minnesota today at the opening of the Obama Presidential Center.
Stephen Colbert and David Letterman paying tribute to Obama’s infamous tan suit at the Presidential Center opening is exactly the level of pettiness and historical accuracy I respect. 😂
Some controversies deserve a reunion tour.
We used to have presidents who exhibited character, honesty, integrity, kindness, and empathy.
Those are all things that I think all of us long for once again.
We were reminded today by Barack Obama that we can have that.