Columbus Celebrates Juneteenth
[COLUMBUS-OH] Let's celebrate freedom. City Council passed ordinance 1533-2021 to support the Kings Arts Complex event, "Columbus Emancipated: Juneteenth Freedom Day," on Saturday, June 19, 2021, from 11a-6p at 835 Mount Vernon Avenue.
Juneteenth Freedom Day will feature foods, games, music, health screenings, COVID-19 vaccinations, higher education and information sessions. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public.
"Juneteenth is a celebration and story of hope for African Americans in this country," said Council President Shannon G. Hardin. "I'm excited to support the King Arts Center to acknowledge and commemorate the day when slaves in the most remote region of the Confederacy learned they were free."
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It abolished slavery and declared more than three million slaves in the south - free. However, it took more than two years for the news to reach black people living in parts of Texas. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston and informed residents that slavery had been abolished. The former slaves began to celebrate their newfound freedom with prayer, feasting, song and dance.
The name "Juneteenth" derived from the combination of the words "June" and "nineteenth."
"The King Arts Complex is honored to present Juneteenth for the second consecutive year," said Performing Arts Director Jevon Collins. "It is an opportunity for the entire community to learn the significance of June 19, 1865, and how the date has impacted the African-American experience over the past 156 years. We invite everyone in Columbus to attend one of the Juneteenth events beginning on June 17 and concluding on June 19."
For more information, visit www.kingartscomplex.com/event/juneteenth-freedom-day.
###