Yesterday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held his fourth annual Juneteenth Jubilee and Youth Sports Day, where his remarks emphasized that House Democrats will continue to stand up to defend our democracy and fight back against the onslaught of extremism being visited on our country by extreme MAGA Republicans. 

LEADER JEFFRIES: This is our fourth annual event. Every year it’s getting bigger and bigger and bigger. But it’s a celebration, of course, a family celebration with food, fellowship, fun and freedom, which is what Juneteenth is all about. And there are people in this country who want to turn back the clock. We’re not going to let it happen. We’re going to keep America moving forward anchored in those principles that are at the core of the best of us—equal protection under the law, liberty and justice for all, free and fair elections and in a democracy that you get to be the captains of our own destiny.

It’s been such an honor for me to represent this community, and despite all the extremism that we’re confronting right now coming at us, we’re going to continue to stand up for voting rights, stand up for civil rights, stand up for racial justice, stand up for social justice, stand up housing justice, stand up for economic justice and stand up to make this city, our community and this country the best version of America possible.

So I’m just thankful for all of you. I’m thankful for the Juneteenth celebration. I’m thankful for the journey that we continue to be on now in our 250th year as a country. And lastly, I’m thankful for Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and the New York Knicks, who after 53 years have brought home the championship. So thank you all for your tremendous, tremendous support of this event. We’re going to continue to grow it year after year, continue to represent you with everything we have and make sure that in the next couple of months, when that November election comes, we do what’s necessary to change direction and take back control of the United States House of Representatives.

God bless you, God bless Coney Island, God bless Brooklyn and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Happy Juneteenth.

This event was hosted in partnership with State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (SD 23), Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny (AD 46), New York City Councilmember Kayla Santosuosso (CD 47), Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.

Full remarks can be watched here.

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