GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – The City of Gainesville began its month-long celebration leading up to Juneteenth on Monday with a ceremony marking Florida’s Emancipation Day.
May 20 is a significant date in Florida history, it marks the day in 1865 when Union General Edward McCook read the Emancipation Proclamation in Tallahassee, officially freeing enslaved people in the state more than two years after the proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln.
The city’s kickoff event featured live music from local student performers, the raising of the Juneteenth flag, and a formal proclamation recognizing the historical importance of the day.
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“One thing about the City of Gainesville, one thing about this season we’re in — we’re always better together than we are apart,” said Zeriah Folston, the city’s Equal Opportunity Director. “It’s because of that that we’re excited so many people have contributed and participated in this event to make it happen.”
The event marks the start of a series of celebrations planned throughout the city, leading up to the official Juneteenth holiday on June 19.
Another Emancipation Day celebration is scheduled for Saturday at the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Arts Center. The event begins at 10 a.m. and will include historical presentations, performances, and community activities honoring the legacy of emancipation and African American culture.
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