Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19th, stands as a pivotal moment in American history when freedom was finally proclaimed to all enslaved people in the United States. The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union forces reached Galveston, Texas, announcing both the end of the Civil War and the liberation of those still held in bondage. This momentous declaration came more than two years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation had legally freed enslaved people in Confederate territories on January 1, 1863.
The name "Juneteenth" blends "June" and "nineteenth," though the celebration is also recognized as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day. This holiday represents both a joyous celebration of achieved freedom and a continuing call to action for the full realization of liberty and equality for all Americans.
Olympia Edward and many mentees from Project Girl Mentoring Program, Dr. Bridgette Jefferies from RAW Med Spa, and Kirk Mathis, Lena Hopkins & Doug Raiford, planning committee and partners to the upcoming Juneteenth Freedom Festival accepted the proclamation.
City Hall, Lynnwood
Free