Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar released the following statement in honor of Black History Month, which is recognized during the month of February:

“Throughout the month of February, we celebrate Black History Month by honoring the brave men and women who gave and risked their lives in the name of equality. From Harriet Tubman to Rosa Parks to Dr. King, to my colleague in Congress, Representative John Lewis—we owe a great debt to those who led the fight for freedom and pushed our nation forward.

We remember their acts of courage and their conviction to justice in the face of unthinkable challenges. In a world that tried to intimidate them and divide our nation with hatred and bigotry, they refused to cower in fear. They changed a generation – they broke down barriers and shifted a nation so that every child, regardless of race, would have a chance at the American Dream.

While we have come a long way, the struggle to eradicate discrimination and injustice endures. Attacks on the Voting Rights Act and hateful assaults on black communities, like the horrific shooting in Charleston, must stop. We owe it to those who paved the way to liberty to continue their work so that every American can live a life free of prejudice and enjoy full equality under the law.”

Representative Aguilar represents California’s 31^st Congressional District.