We're holding space in our hearts for two momentous anniversaries this week. Being fully in the joy and fully in the grief, as life so often calls upon us to do:
◼ We're celebrating that Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the abolition of slavery in the U.S., will be officially recognized as a state holiday in Massachusetts (the RFC's home state) for the first time on Saturday; as we celebrate MA's marking of this historic milestone, let this be just a first step, not the last, in the state's commitment to justice for its Black communities. (More on Juneteenth in MA, here: https://www.nbcboston.com/.../massachusetts.../2402622/)
◼ And, many of you will recall that June 19th also marks another, very sad occasion for the RFC: the anniversary of the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Each year, we remember them and their fight for justice. We give thanks for the communities who rallied to save their lives and then protected their two sons after their death. 68 years on, we still remember and always will.
It's complicated to sit with the fullness of what emerges from both anniversaries on June 19th, but both deserve their recognition. We at the RFC will be keeping them both in our hearts this week.