Congratulations to Opal Lee, known as “The Grandmother of Juneteenth” who has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
According to reports, members of Congress in Texas sent a letter to the Nobel Prize Nomination Committee on behalf of Lee, who spent nearly 40 years trying to make Juneteenth a national holiday.
Texas Congressman, Marc Veasey stated that Lee is a “civil rights icon” for everything that she has done throughout her life.
He also said, “I have been proud to call Ms. Lee a friend and mentor for nearly my whole life and was honored to work alongside her to finally get Juneteenth made into a national holiday last year.”
Veasey continued, “I cannot think of a better person who has constantly fought for justice, and that is why I am nominating her to receive this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.”
Opal Lee, who walked from her home in Fort Worth to Washington D.C. to campaign for making Juneteenth a federal holiday, efforts did not go unnoticed. In June 2021, President Biden, officially made it a federal holiday.
Lee spoke about the accomplishments in an interview, “I’ve never lost hope. I think this is time. I think our time has come.”