Local Juneteenth Celebrations

"Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863.”  (Quote from  http://buyblackchambana.com/juneteenth/ website.) 

The group HV Neighborhood Transformation, most recently known for their protests in both Champaign and Urbana, has organized a Juneteenth Celebration with a peace walk starting at Western Bowl ending at Beardsley park stopping several times for 8 mins and 46 seconds to pay homage to George Floyd.  Upon arrival at Beardsley Park, there will be  events celebrating the  cultural and historical importance of Juneteenth. The peace walk begins at 4:00 pm on Friday, June 19.  Everyone is welcome. More information on the walk and events at:  http://buyblackchambana.com/juneteenth/. 

On Saturday, June 20, bring family and friends to Douglas Park for a Juneteenth celebration, including including a performance by Chicago-based Ayodele Drum & Dance. The event is sponsored by  Champaign Public Library Friends and the Champaign Park District. More information at the Facebook event or on the library site.