El Centro hosts celebration to honor Juneteenth

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - El Centro is celebrating Black history and culture.

The Imperial Valley Social Justice Committee hosted a Juneteenth event with soul food, singers, performances by line and folklorico dancers, local vendors, an African fashion show, and more.

The County Board of Supervisors President, John Hawk, and a Jeff Gonzalez assembly member representative also presented Juneteenth proclamations. There were special Opal Lee awards presented to outstanding community leaders.

"This event has been a blessing to get the people out," said local Rosalind Summers. "Just a lot of love, a lot of friends you see, and just the purpose of Juneteenth, you know, for us to have our freedom."

Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated on June 19, also known as "Emancipation" or "Freedom Day."