City Of Sarasota issued the following announcement on Jun. 19.
Happy #Juneteenth! Today we observe the anniversary of the end of slavery in the United States. This important federal holiday, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, commemorates the official day the last remaining enslaved people in the U.S. were informed of their liberation, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Yesterday, hundreds of community members joined together to honor the occasion at the 2022 Newtown Juneteenth Celebration, co-sponsored by the City of Sarasota. Attendees gathered with family and friends to enjoy great food and entertainment, as well as to celebrate African American culture, history, and progress.
Vice Mayor Kyle Battie concluded the event by presenting organizer Gwendalyn Fleetwood with a proclamation from the Sarasota City Commission, celebrating the date as a momentous and memorable tribute to our country’s history, and honoring the many Black leaders who have contributed to the progress of our nation.
“We do things like this not just for the entertainment of it, but for the sense of community. I want the children of today to have a tradition that they can talk about with their children tomorrow.” - Vice Mayor Kyle Battie
Original source can be found here.
Source: City Of Sarasota
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