(Spokane, WA) – U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref announced today that she will join with Federal, State, and Local leaders, in celebrating Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
“Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865, more than two years after the emancipation proclamation took effect, when Major General Gordon Granger landed troops in Galveston, Texas and announced all enslaved persons in that state were now free,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “It is a chance to celebrate the progress made in the fight for civil rights. It is also a day to recognize the work still to be done and recommit ourselves to ensuring freedom and justice for all.”
As part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office commitment to vigorously enforcing civil rights laws, the office’s United Against Hate program directly connects the United States Attorney’s Office and its local and federal law enforcement partners with a diverse group of community organizations to increase community understanding and reporting of hate crimes and hate incidents. This community outreach program seeks to address the chronic underreporting of hate crimes and hate incidents and build strong relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve to share resources and respond to potential unlawful acts of hate more effectively. Consistent with this program, the U.S. Attorney’s Office created a dedicated hotline and online portal for complaints of civil rights violations in Eastern Washington.
U.S. Attorney Waldref further emphasized everyone has a duty to help realize the goal of protecting marginalized groups and the public from hate-motivated crimes. “Working together we can create an Eastern Washington of shared values and foster hope that our communities can be safer, stronger, and more inclusive.”