Zohran Mamdani: “More than 250,000 formerly enslaved black Texans turned June…”

“We commemorate the people of Galveston, Texas, learning of their freedom. As you heard, it was a full two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect on January 1, 1963. 1863. Now More than 250,000 formerly enslaved black Texans turned June 19 into a holiday. A holiday of barbecues, of rodeos, of singing, of red punch. When black people were denied the right to to gather in public places for the holiday, they were not deterred.” (26:24–26:33)

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.