Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Liberation Day, is an unofficial American holiday and an official Texas state holiday. It is celebrated annually on the 19th of June in America to commemorate Union army general Gordon Granger's reading of federal orders in the city of Galveston, Texas, on 19 June 1865, proclaiming all slaves in Texas were now free. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had formally freed them almost two and a half years earlier, and the American Civil War had largely ended with the defeat of the Confederate States in April, Texas was the most remote of the slave states, with a low presence of Union troops, so enforcement of the proclamation had been slow and inconsistent. Democratic Governors Cuomo (NY) and Northam (VA) recently made Juneteenth a paid day off for all state employees.

We have several events to commemorate Juneteenth.

On Saturday, 16 May 2020, more than 200 electors logged on from around Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to represent their country committees and vote for the candidates who will represent EMEA in the 2020 Democrats Abroad delegation to the National Convention. This was our first fully online regional convention. The people elected to represent DA’s EMEA region at this year’s DNC come from many countries across the region and well represent the diversity of our party and our organization. This year Democrats Abroad Germany had two big wins in these important elections.

The voting started with the election of the EMEA regional DNC member. There close to 50 candidates from our region, including six members from Germany:

• Antigoné McDermot, Heidelberg Chapter
• Christian Wollny, Hamburg Chapter
• Diane Haven, Kaiserslautern Chapter
• Evan Bermel, Berlin Chapter
• Jacqueline Routier, Berlin Chapter
• Kathryn (Katie) Solon, Munich Chapter

There are many things you can do to help get out the word and help other Americans vote. Below is a short list of things you can do to help. If you have any ideas, please send them to [email protected].

On 18 January 2020, millions of women and allies around the world will join the fourth annual March of Women’s March Global, a yearly event that brings together all those who are committed to fighting for equality, justice, and women’s human rights worldwide. 2020’s Event, March for Our Human Rights, will focus on bodily autonomy, which is the right to have control over one’s own body without coercion or external pressures. This includes abortion rights, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), sexual consent, period equality, family planning, access to healthcare services and information, and more.

Join Democrats Abroad Germany at the fourth annual Global Women's March on Saturday, 18 January 2020. RSVP today!

Register to Vote and Request your ballot for the 2020 elections

Democrats Abroad has talked to many of the Democratic Presidential Candidates. If you were unable to participate in the live events, you can watch the videos for the candidates below. As we speak to more candidates over the next month, the list will be updated.

Pete Buttigieg - Sep 19, 2019
Julián Castro - Oct 22, 2019
Bernie Sanders  - Nov 7, 2019
Steve Bullock  - Nov 14, 2019
Michael Bennet - Nov 19, 2019
Marianne Williamson  - Dec 4, 2019
Tom Steyer - Dec 16, 2019
Deval Patrick - Dec 28, 2019

The Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary petition process is underway, but time is running out!

Each campaign needs at least 300 valid Democrats Abroad members residing abroad to sign their petition by January 6, 2020, to be included on the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary ballot and meet the criteria as defined in the Democrats Abroad delegate selection plan.

All the candidates have signed up to participate in the Democrats Abroad petition process. Click here to sign the petitions.

You may sign as many candidate petitions as you'd like. By signing, you help ensure that a candidate appears on the Democrats Abroad 2020 Global Presidential Primary ballot. Signing a petition is not considered either an endorsement or a vote. You'll still need to VOTE for your preferred candidate during the primary.

Request a ballot for 2020 elections at https://www.votefromabroad.org/