A founding member of the Montana Black Collective spoke at a Missoula rally about the significance of Juneteenth and urged the community to treat the holiday as a call to continued action toward racial justice and inclusion.

The speaker, a founding member of the Montana Black Collective and director at Empower Montana, described Juneteenth as the 1865 date when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, received word of emancipation and said the holiday “marks the effective end of slavery in The United States, a testament to resilience, and a stark reminder of delayed justice.” The speaker emphasized that Juneteenth “is not just a holiday. It's a call to action.”

He said progress such as federal recognition of Juneteenth does not end the work of dismantling systemic barriers and called on those with privilege to advocate actively for marginalized communities. “Progress made does not mean the work is done,” the speaker said, adding that truthful history-telling and community-building are necessary to foster belonging.

Organizers encouraged attendees to participate in local Juneteenth observances on June 19 and to engage with community groups at outreach tables after the rally.