Act Daily News
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Opal Lee, the 96-year-old Texan who efficiently championed laws to make Juneteenth a federal vacation, was honored on Wednesday with the revealing of a portrait on the state Capitol.
The portrait of Lee, referred to as the “grandmother of Juneteenth,” is the primary new portrait to be hung within the state Senate chamber in additional than 40 years.
“This is a historic day,” Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick stated in the course of the unveiling ceremony.
Lee, who walked from Fort Worth to Washington, DC, to advocate for the Juneteenth vacation, obtained a standing ovation in the course of the ceremony. “This does not happen often, it’s a great honor,” Patrick stated.
The decision to honor Lee was offered by State Sen. Royce West who stated Lee is “worthy of all the accolades” which have come her method.
State Sen. Borris Miles stated the celebration of Lee is an instance of Texas giving individuals roses whereas they’re alive to obtain them. Miles known as Lee a “living legend” whose work shall be studied and admired for generations.
Lee instructed Act Daily News she was delighted when she heard she could be honored with a portrait within the statehouse.
“I was humbled,” Lee stated. “I’m hanging in the same chamber with Barbara Jordan. Oh, wow. I didn’t know how to act.”
Lee’s portrait joins the portrait of late Rep. Barbara Jordan to be the one two Black Americans honored in such a fashion within the Texas statehouse. Jordan served within the Texas state Senate previous to representing the state in Congress till her demise in 1996.
President Joe Biden signed the invoice making Juneteenth a nationwide vacation in June 2021.
Lee instructed Act Daily News she plans to proceed her activism advocating for points similar to joblessness, homelessness, well being care, and local weather change but additionally desires to proceed to coach others about Juneteenth and the consequences of racism.
She stated it’s as much as the youth to show individuals to like and to not hate.
“I don’t see why the color of your skin seems to make a difference,” Lee stated, including that it’s time for society to “get over” racism.
Since getting Juneteenth acknowledged as a federal vacation, Lee has written a kids’s e book to assist educate the youth about Juneteenth and is engaged on getting funding for a Juneteenth museum in Fort Worth.
“Everybody has a part to play,” Lee stated.
Source: www.cnn.com