Amid ongoing Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality across the nation, many cities including Atlanta, are preparing to celebrate Juneteenth, the day the last slaves in Texas were freed.
The holiday falls on June 19, but has not been designated as a federal holiday, which would make it a paid holiday for many American workers. Ongoing protests have sparked renewed interest in the holiday with several companies making it a paid holiday.
More than 45 states have passed legislation and resolutions commemorating Juneteenth, with the most recent resolution passing in New Hampshire in 2019, according to the Congressional Research Service.
As parades and festival are under way to honor and shed light on Juneteenth, here are some events in Atlanta that will celebrate the holiday:
Juneteenth at Oakland Cemetery – Atlantans can take part in a two-day Juneteenth celebration hosted by the historic cemetery. At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, guests can visit the cemetery for a silent reflection and remembrance walk. On Friday, the cemetery will feature virtual tours of its African American Burial Grounds, Gullah Geechee storytelling and musical performances and other events on its Instagram and Facebook pages. More information on the event's can be found at https://oaklandcemetery.com/event/juneteenth-2020/.
March on Atlanta – Organized by the One Race Movement, the march will begin at 9 a.m at Centennial Olympic Park. "In light of the racially motivated violence of the past several weeks, and the corresponding protests across our nation, we are calling for a clear biblical response of righteousness and justice from the church of our city," organizers said on the event page. The event is free and attendees can register here.
Unexpected Virtual Tour: Juneteenth + Barbecue – Attendees can learn about the history of Juneteenth and Emancipation Day and their respective histories in Atlanta during a virtual tour. The tour costs $10 and will be held 7:30 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday. The tour is also appropriate for children age 10 or older. Those interested can register here.
The Juneteenth Takeover – Curated by creative arts consultant company Power Haus Creative, the Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association in conjunction with Atlanta-based art nonprofit C4 Atlanta is hosting an outdoor gallery exhibit of "unapologetic Black expression" from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. The exhibit will sit on the exterior of the historic Flatiron Building, also known as FlatironCity at 84 Peachtree Street, in Downtown Atlanta. It will feature 19 artists and will remain on display until Monday, June 22. More information about the event can be found at https://www.atlantadowntown.com/do/the-juneteenth-takeover.
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