Ahead of Juneteenth, Congressman Menefee Calls for Stronger Protections for Voting Rights and Civil Rights

HOUSTON, TX — Today, Congressman Christian D. Menefee (TX-18) hosted a press conference at the historic Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Houston to commemorate Juneteenth and discuss voting rights. 

He was joined by Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin; State Senator Borris L. Miles; State Representative Lauren Ashley Simmons; Bishop James Dixon; Judson W. Robinson III, President of the Houston Branch NAACP; Ashley Harris, President and CEO of the Houston Area Urban League; Jacqueline Bostic, Executive Director of the Emancipation Park Conservancy; and Pastor Lou McElroy of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.

During the press conference, Congressman Menefee condemned the Supreme Court's decision in Callais v. Louisiana and the Trump Administration's continued attack of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, warning that both threaten decades of hard-fought civil rights progress. He called on Black voters to make their voices heard at the ballot box, urged corporations to stop remaining silent in the face of attacks on voting rights and equal representation, and challenged Black student-athletes to reconsider supporting institutions that benefit from their talent while failing to stand up for their communities and fundamental democratic rights.

"Juneteenth was not just an announcement, it was a promise. A promise that freedom, equality, and justice would belong to all Americans. Every generation of Black Americans has had to defend that promise through organizing, protest, the courts, and sacrifice. Now it is our turn. As we celebrate Juneteenth, we must also recommit ourselves to passing comprehensive voting rights legislation and protecting civil rights, because the fight is not confined to Congress or the state legislature, it continues in our courts, our communities, and across this country until the promise of Juneteenth is fully realized," said Congressman Menefee.

Texas is home to more than 18 million registered voters and remains one of the most diverse states in the nation. In the 2024 presidential election, Black Texans accounted for roughly 11 percent of all ballots cast statewide. Those figures underscore the continuing importance of voting rights in a state where the struggle for freedom and equal citizenship has shaped generations.

###