How and where to celebrate Juneteenth in Spokane
SPOKANE, Wash. — Members of the greater Spokane community are invited to celebrate Juneteenth through a series of events this upcoming weekend.
Juneteenth is a holiday that celebrates the emancipation of black slavery in the Unites States. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, but the news of emancipation did not reach the last slaves in Galveston, Texas until June 19, 1865.
The holiday has long been celebrated in Texas, but this past April – 156 years later – it was made a legal state holiday in Washington.
RELATED: Washington Legislature approves Juneteenth as state holiday
READ: Juneteenth to be a state holiday in Washington state in 2022
“Juneteenth is considered Liberation Day in the African American community, celebrating our ancestor’s freedom,” said Councilwoman Betsy Wilkerson. “I am delighted to be partnering with strong and prominent organizations here in Spokane to celebrate not only Juneteenth but also the passing of House Bill 1061 that made Juneteenth a recognized holiday in Washington state. What better time than now to highlight cultural celebrations in our city and in our beloved East Central neighborhood. I hope everyone will come out to help us celebrate, learn about the East 5th Avenue Initiative, and take advantage of the resources and fun we will have for the entire community.”
There will be several community events throughout the weekend to celebrate:
Movie in the Park featuring “Black Panther”
Date: Friday, June 18th
Time: 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Location: Underhill Park, 2910 E. Hartson Ave
Juneteenth Celebration & Vaccination Clinic
Date: Saturday, June 19th
Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm (resource fair) 2:00 pm—6:00 pm (music and entertainment)
Location: MLK Family Outreach Center at East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone St.
Praise in the Park and Community Book Drive
Date: Sunday, June 20th
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Liberty Park, 502 S. Pittsburg Street
Father’s Day Drive up Brunch
Date: Sunday, June 20th
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Emmanuel Life Center, 631 S. Richard Allen Court
The Juneteenth celebrations and events are made possible through several collaborators including the INJC, the Carl Maxey Center, Spokane NAACP, the MLK Family Outreach Center, S.C.A.R and Spokane Ministerial Fellowship.
This year’s celebration marks 10 years since INJC’s activation of Juneteenth in Spokane.
READ: Inland Northwest resources to help you fight racism
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