Locals celebrate Juneteenth calling for unity against persisting injustices

A local Juneteenth event celebrates the emancipation of African-Americans, the end of slavery in the U.S., they call it a second Independence Day.

Marlene Thomas, event organizer, said, ” Juneteenth is the people’s holiday. It belongs to all of us. And all of us should come together as one. ”

Laura Griffin, event organizer and facilitator, said, ” It’s about community. It’s about values. It’s about your rights. It’s about just standing up for you as a person. ”

It’s a history lesson dating back to June 19 th in 1865 when Texas finally accepted the all men are created equal.

” It opens up the door for awareness. So, because of us being in slavery, our culture being in slavery, we opened up the doors that the other cultures would not have to endure that, ” Griffin said.

A time of thanks for the sacrifices of those who lived and died as slaves.

“We paved the way so other people would not have to go through what that culture went through,” Griffin said.

Aeiramique Glass-Blake, Director Generation Justice of San Diego, said it’s a time to continue pressing the fight against oppression wherever it may be.

” We have to be unified. We have to be our sister’s keeper. We have to lift each other up. And we also have to be preparing our young ladies to be the leaders of tomorrow, ” Glass-Blake.

She said some injustices continue.

” I think it’s important for us to talk about that. Talk about the injustices and how we are not all free. And so, none of us are free until we are all free, ” Glass-Blake.

There were workshops specifically for groups of men and women which encouraged participants to help build each other up.

“It’s about our rights as a people,” Griffin said.