Michelle Obama issues Juneteenth voter registration message: 'This is a critical moment for all of us'

Michelle Obama is delivering a get-out-the-vote message to mark Juneteenth, calling this year's election a "critical moment."

"Juneteenth is all about celebrating our collective freedom and fighting to protect it," the former first lady said in a video posted Wednesday on social platform X.

Juneteenth recognizes when enslaved people of African descent in Texas learned of their freedom in 1865 following the Civil War. 

"Our power, our rights and even our planet are on the ballot this year," said Obama, who founded the voter registration and engagement organization When We All Vote in 2018.

"So now is the time to think about how you're going to make your voice heard in this election," she added. 

Urging her 22 million followers on X to visit When We All Vote's website, Obama said, "Get yourself registered to vote, and then text three friends to do the same."

"Do not sit on the sidelines this year, because this is a critical moment for all of us," she said. 

In January, Obama said in an interview that she was frightened about November's presidential election. 

“I am terrified about what could possibly happen,” Obama said on Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast.

“Because our leaders matter. Who we select, who speaks for us, who holds that bully pulpit — it affects us in ways that sometimes I think people take for granted,” she said at the time.