“She’s been making things happen her whole life. She’s just an extraordinary person in just every way,” TCU Professor James Riddlesperger said.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth’s Opal Lee, known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” has written an open letter to President Donald Trump, inviting him to participate in upcoming Juneteenth celebrations.
“There’s a lot to be done in 2025, so, we can’t rest on our laurels, we have to get busy,” Lee said about her continued mission.
The civil rights activist decided to reach out to the president by putting her feelings in an open letter on the same day Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.
“We don’t tell our leaders how we feel, and I thought he should know, so I wrote him a letter,” Lee explained.
In her letter, which begins “Dear President Donald Trump,” Lee emphasizes unity and service.
“You have the power to teach us all for this possible. When service replaces the speculation,” she wrote.
TCU Political Science Professor James Riddlesperger, who knows Lee personally, says this initiative aligns with her character. Riddlesperger has seen Lee’s impact on the Fort Worth community and beyond.
“She’s been making things happen her whole life,” Riddlesperger noted. “She’s just an extraordinary person in just every way. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was still walking 50 years from now. She’s just a remarkable person. I love to claim her for the city of Fort Worth. But the truth is, she’s a national treasure.”
Lee’s previous advocacy led to a historic moment when Juneteenth became a federal holiday.
“The president’s office called and said he thought he was signing the bill to make Juneteenth a national holiday,” Lee recalled of the moment that culminated in her White House visit. “And then he gave me the pen.”
The 2026 Juneteenth celebrations will feature Lee’s signature Freedom Walk in Washington D.C., coinciding with the nation’s 250th anniversary. In her letter, she extends an invitation to Trump: “Come lead this march, it says we are together.”
While Riddlesperger acknowledges the unlikely nature of Trump’s participation, he said he wouldn’t put it past Lee to make it happen.
