Juneteenth: "Achieving Justice" - with Judicial Candidate Magistrate Lasheyl Stroud from Franklin County
Today is Juneteenth. Its history is based in Texas, where on June 18, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger arrived with 2,000 federal troops to occupy Texas for the federal government. The following day, General Granger stood on a balcony in Galveston and read "General Order No. 3", announcing that all slaves were totally emancipated.
June 19th or "Juneteenth" has been considered a celebration of the end of slavery in these United States and as having 3 goals: "to celebrate, to educate, and to agitate".
I see the celebration of Juneteenth as part of what all of us must do to accomplish achieving justice for everyone--leaving no one behind by ensuring fairness, equality and respect for all Americans.
No one can doubt that this year is especially pivotal. On Juneteenth, as we step back today to more fully comprehend what has happened since the death of George Floyd and so many others denied justice, our world has been agitated and educated. It's sobering that we have let thoughtless ways go on for so long, not understanding how people have been unacceptably hurt, pushed down and pushed under. So, for today, we celebrate, and we resolve to make justice for everyone more real.
As a judge, it is my duty to educate the public about the judiciary. That's why I have started a video series in my campaign for the Ohio Supreme Court called, "Achieving Justice."
Today, my campaign releases our video interview of Magistrate Lasheyl Stroud, a first-time candidate for a newly created domestic and juvenile judgeship in Franklin County, Ohio. Please watch this video and remember that just by voting, you help achieve justice. Your vote is your power.
Please learn about Ohio's judicial candidates. The ballot on November 3 will not have party affiliation next to judicial candidates' names, so if you care about that, educate yourself. Our "Achieving Justice" series will help you learn about Ohio's judicial candidates. Check out my website every Friday to see whom we've interviewed. I've met some amazing people, and so can you.
As we celebrate today, we need not be daunted by how far we have still to go. Achieving justice takes all of us. Don't give up. I won't.
Happy Juneteenth.
Judge Jennifer Brunner
Candidate for Ohio Supreme Court
P.S. Information about voting is available on my website. Access links to update your voter registration and download an application for an absentee ballot for the November 3, 2020 election. The sooner you mail in you application for a ballot, the earlier you will receive it after the close of voter registration on October 5, 2020.
You can sign up to volunteer for our campaign here, or donate here, or get email updates here.