Honoring Opal Lee

In the midst of tension with SB3 and HB379, Opal Lee “The grandmother of Juneteenth” was honored by the senate today for her activism work.

Whether you celebrate Juneteenth or not, this news is bittersweet with the possibility of teachers not being able to speak about her in schools.

Her years long campaign to make Juneteenth a national holiday came to pass last month.

No matter your view on the day her efforts are to be celebrated.

Opal Lee of Fort Worth is ninety four and still is active in trying to incite change in the community that she loves.

Governor Dan Patrick made the recommendation that her portrait be hung permanently in the senate chamber. If granted her portrait will be the first to be hung in several decades.

Senator Royce West believes that adding Opal Lee to the wall in the chambers will be a step in the right direction to making the art more reflective of the people of Texas.