June 19, 2026 (Berkeley, CA)
June 19, 2026 (Berkeley, CA) – Today, we celebrate Juneteenth—also known as “Juneteenth Independence Day,” “Freedom Day,” or “Emancipation Day.” This vital day commemorates June 19, 1865, when 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom, more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth honors the movement to abolish slavery, a legacy of collective resistance forged by enslaved people and their allies. While communities have celebrated this day since the 1860s, its establishment as a federal holiday in 2021 brought long-overdue national recognition. Today serves as both a celebration of liberation and a reminder to reflect on our collective progress while confronting the urgent work remaining to build a truly equitable and just future.
This year’s observance comes at a particularly urgent moment. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice released a legal opinion that could weaken longstanding protections against the unnecessary institutionalization of disabled people, threatening rights that disability advocates have fought for decades to secure. As we honor the legacy of emancipation and the Black freedom movement, we are reminded that civil rights are never guaranteed. They must be defended, expanded, and passed on to future generations. Juneteenth is both a celebration of liberation and a call to remain vigilant against efforts that undermine the dignity, autonomy, and full inclusion of marginalized communities.
The Power of Intersectionality
While Juneteenth centers on the abolition of slavery and the ongoing fight for racial justice, we must also recognize the deep and historic connections between the Black civil rights and disability rights movements. Black organizers, activists, and freedom movements have played a pivotal role in advancing civil rights, disability justice, and collective liberation.
Just miles from where we write today, the 504 Sit-In took place in San Francisco’s Federal Building. For 28 days, disabled activists and their allies occupied the building until the federal government signed the regulations implementing Section 504, the nation’s first federal civil rights protections for disabled people. The action was sustained in large part through support from Black civil rights leaders and organizations, like the Black Panther Party, demonstrating the power of cross-movement solidarity.
- Harriet Tubman: The legendary abolitionist and freedom fighter was herself a person with a disability, living with epilepsy and traumatic brain injury resulting from violence she survived during her youth.
- Fannie Lou Hamer: A fierce civil rights hero and voting rights champion who was a driving force behind the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Hamer survived polio as a child and later sustained permanent injuries from a brutal, racially motivated police beating.
- Mary Davidson: A brilliant organizer, advocate, and founding member of the National Association for Black Social Workers, Davidson dedicated her life to civil rights and the independent living movement.
- Brad Lomax: A member of the Black Panther Party who lived with multiple sclerosis, Lomax was a pivotal leader in the historic 1977 Section 504 Sit-in in San Francisco. Recognizing that disability rights are civil rights, the Black Panthers anchored the historic protest by providing hot meals and vital supplies, sustaining the activists in their fight for federal accessibility laws.
Leading the Way Today
Today, a new generation of Black, disabled artists, advocates, and organizers are pioneering an intersectional path toward a more inclusive and accessible world:
- Keri Gray: A consultant, speaker, and former Senior Director at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Gray utilizes an intersectional framework to socially and politically mobilize, empower, and equip disabled individuals from marginalized communities.
- Talila “TL” Lewis: An abolitionist community lawyer, educator, and organizer whose groundbreaking work highlights and dismantles the inextricable links between ableism, racism, classism, and systemic oppression.
Our Commitment at CIL
The Center for Independent Living (CIL) continues to fight for universal access. We recognize that true liberation requires working directly and collaboratively with Black and Brown communities at the intersection of disability rights and broader social justice movements. We must advocate fiercely for all communities and especially for those most excluded from systemic power and resources.
CIL is committed to deepening support for disabled individuals who bear the heaviest burdens of systemic exclusion: those who are currently or formerly incarcerated, individuals experiencing homelessness, and people who are institutionalized.
Expand Your Knowledge
To learn more about the profound history and future of Black disability justice, we invite you to explore the following resources:
