Juneteenth, a celebration of the day news of the Emancipation Proclamation was openly shared with the last state in the union, is being recognized by Santa Clarita representatives and local activists.
Local activism groups SCV for Change, in association with Real Generation Z, have organized a socially-distanced picnic Juneteenth celebration Friday in honor of the 155th year since the total emancipation of African-American slaves, officials said.
This event has the goal of “showing love to local Black-owned businesses, and maybe even highlighting athletes, performers, art, other work,” according to event organizers.
“We hope to run a larger event similar to this at a later date in the summer at a better time during the pandemic,” said organizers in a social media post. “One where we can organize a bigger effort and build a sense of community here for our Black neighbors and other minority populations.”
Organizers encouraged followers on social media to inform them of any additional local Black-owned businesses, groups, organizations, artists, or more that they haven’t yet reached out to in order to offer to support them.
Juneteenth — which gets its name from a portmanteau combining “June” and “19th” — is a widely recognized holiday that commemorates the freeing of the last slaves living in Galveston, Texas, a part of the Confederate South, on June 19, 1865. They received word they were free more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Several potential explanations have been offered through the years to explain the two-and-a-half-year delay in informing the slaves that their existence as mere property was no longer supported by the law.
According to Juneteenth.com, options include the tale of a messenger bearing the news of human freedom who was murdered on his way to Texas, another theory states that the news was deliberately withheld by slave owners and local lawmakers to maintain the labor force on the plantations, where still another poses that federal troops may have actually waited for the slave owners to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest before going to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation.
Whatever the reason, which could include none, or all of the above, thousands of people were kept in chains far beyond the time in which the law supported their enslavement, according to historians.
Currently, hundreds of cities, 46 states, including California and the District of Columbia observe the holiday, with Texas being the first to do so back in 1980, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service.
Several local representatives acknowledged Juneteenth via social media on Friday, including Assemblywoman Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita, Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, and Senator Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita. The hanging deaths of 27-year-old Palmdale resident Robert Fuller and 38-year-old Victorville resident Malcolm Harsch, both within the 21st California Senate District represented by Wilk, have drawn national media attention.
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger made note of Juneteenth during the Friday’s COVID-19 press conference.
“I would like to acknowledge that today is Juneteenth. We continue to honor this meaningful day in our nation’s history and look to our future as a county and as a nation with a commitment to Unity and equality and for our families across LA County,” said Barger.
See Related: Santa Clarita Representatives React To Hanging Deaths Of Robert Fuller, Malcolm Harsch
The SCV Juneteenth picnic is set to take place at Bridgeport Park in Valencia at 5 p.m. Friday.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own picnic meals, and water and light snacks are set to be provided. Guests are asked to keep social-distancing in mind during the event, and to wear a mask.
SCV for Change plans to hold a $2 raffle with gifts and prizes from select Black-owned businesses.
Proceeds will go to Build Power and BLM L.A. Youth, and donations will also be made in remembrance of Robert Fuller, Breonna Taylor, Malcolm Harsh, and many others, according to organizers.
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I know somebody here has a disparaging remark to make. Come on folks.
Jesus : Are you a resident in our beautiful community? I doubt it. Buh buh…
At least they didn’t seem to be blocking emergency vehicles and causing unnecessary traffic. Protest all you want. Don’t forget about the deadly corona virus. We can gather in protest but the kids will only go school two days a week come august. I see the priorities and it’s clearly not education.
Old news kids. Get a job for goodness sake.
Old news means nothing has changed and good reason to demonstrate.
Yes! Can’t wait for Kwanza Claus to roll into town.
Derogatory comment meant to entertain or offend?