Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the
following statement today marking the 150th anniversary of the
Emancipation Proclamation taking effect: “On January 1, 1863,
with the stroke of President Abraham Lincoln’s pen, the arc of
American history bent dramatically toward liberty and justice
for all. With the implementation of the Emancipation
Proclamation, our nation began to honor the vision set forth by
our founders – that ‘all men are created equal’ – and started to
turn the tide of progress toward the promise of freedom for
every American. “President Lincoln’s bold action – what he
called an ‘act of justice’ – marked the first official step in
the struggle for civil rights, and it still inspires us to this
day. As we gathered with over 30 Members of Congress and others
at the National Archives on New Year’s Eve to view the original
document and celebrate its meaning, we were reminded of our best
traditions as Americans: the ability and obligation of each
generation to carry forward th