Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson Remarks at Juneteenth Prayer Breakfast with Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad
Celebrating Juneteenth and highlighting the challenges we must continue to fight for, Jocelyn Benson delivered the following remarks at a prayer breakfast with Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad and other community leaders:
“Juneteenth is important not only because of the historic emancipation it represents. But also because it reminds us, profoundly, that the power of the people will always be greater than the people in power.
“Juneteenth is the anniversary of the undeniable power of we the people to fight for – and achieve, even if delayed – the promise of freedom.
“And I’m here today to say, unequivocally, that we are, right now, in 2025, in the middle of a battle over the future of our democracy, our fundamental rights, and our freedoms. And what we do now, together, will determine the future of all those things for generations to come.
“I started my career in Montgomery Alabama investigating white supremacist and neo Nazi extremist groups that were committing hate crimes around the country. And being there, spending time in Selma, I was instilled with this deep sense of responsibility to continue the work of those who stood at the foot of the Edmund Pettis bridge 60 years ago, facing down violence, tear gas and billy clubs simply because they believed that the one person one vote promise in our constitution should be a reality for everyone.
“They fought for the same reasons we fight: Because we know our best chance for everyone having a fair shot to succeed and thrive begins and ends with equal access to the vote, educational opportunity, and economic prosperity.
“And now here we are, over a century after Juneteenth and over 60 years since the march on Selma, in the midst of another effort – a very serious, coordinated effort – of powerful folks trying to roll back not just the advancements of those who’ve come before us, but democracy itself.”
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“This is our moment to prove we – all of us, no matter where we live or what political party we belong to—are committed to protecting and preserving what truly makes America great – equality, justice, opportunity, fairness, prosperity for all.
“Today I’m asking you to recognize the power we all have to stand up, right now, and be warriors in defense of the promises of freedom that those who came before us fought to protect.
“Do not think for one minute that the chaos and division and the lies and the hate of the moment have to define who we are. We have the power to define who we are. And we have the power to decide the future of our state, and our nation.
“We have the power to ensure our children can go to public school and get a quality education and come home safe.
“The power to ensure we all will have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink.
“We have the power to ensure the freedom to vote – our democracy – will remain secured for all.
“Because the eyes of those freedom fighters who fought and bled so that we could live in a land where all are free and equal under the law, their eyes are on us now.
“The eyes of the future of this state, the young boys and girls who will inherit what we leave behind, their eyes are on us now.
“It’s on us now to show up for who we are, what we stand for, and the Michigan we will fight for.
“One where our kids can go to school free from fear of gun violence.
“One where unarmed men and women of color are not terrorized or killed during a routine traffic stop.
“One where democracy thrives and justice prevails.
“One where everyone can afford to own a home, and heat that home and our residents don’t have to choose between paying their electric bill or buying groceries.
“That is the world I am fighting for. That is the world those who came before us fought for.”
“That is the world we all must fight for together.