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  • Erie’s Juneteenth celebrations will occur over the June 13 weekend leading up to June 19, or Freedom Day.
  • Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom.

Erie’s Juneteenth Celebration will honor African American heritage and history with a family friendly festival dedicated to culture and freedom.

Events are planned for the weekend of June 13, ahead of the national holiday that comes on June 19 and is also known as Freedom Day.

What is Juneteenth?

In 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, which created a new legal public holiday.

The holiday’s name is a combination of “June” and “nineteenth,” the date in 1865 on which federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved African Americans that they were free and the Civil War had ended.

Technically, the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 had freed enslaved people in the rebelling states, including Texas, and the war had ended in April 1865. But some African Americans were still being held in slavery in Texas and didn’t know of the war’s end until the arrival of U.S. Gen. Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865.

The day has become not only a celebration of freedom, but also of African American history, culture and achievements.

How will Erie celebrate Juneteenth?

Erie’s Black Wall Street will host a Juneteenth Mix & Mingle with a cruise aboard the Victorian Princess on June 13 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Cost is $30.

Erie’s Juneteenth Celebration will hold its event June 14 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Perry Square. Organizers said the free event will include live music, vendors, giveaways and more.

The schedule for the day includes a proclamation, “Chatting with Sonya & Friends,” Erie Dance Theatre, Supreme Heat, Fire and Ice, Life Thru Music, awards and giveaways, Erie Elite Line Dancing, Reminiscent, T-Kosmic, Round Midnight and the headliner, Grammy Award-nominated producer and artist Glenn Jones, according to information on the event’s Facebook page. Jones’ hits include “We’ve Only Just Begun” and “Baby Come Home.”

No Kings on same day

Three organizations were speaking up about an event set for the same day as Erie’s Juneteenth Celebration.

The Erie County Democratic Party issued a clarification via email saying Erie’s Juneteenth Celebration is separate from and not in coordination with a No Kings Rally being held the same day at 11 a.m. at West Eighth Street and the Bayfront Parkway.

“We encourage you to attend both events, but want to clarify that they are not coordinated events and are being held in different locations,” the Democrats said.

French Creek Indivisible and 50501 Erie PA said jointly via Facebook that they recognize both the importance of Erie’s Juneteenth Celebration and that the same date has been chosen as a national day of action by the No Kings movement.

“Out of deference for the organizers and community celebrating Juneteenth, 50501 Erie and French Creek Indivisible decided to not host any actions in Erie on June 14. Instead we asked our members to support the Juneteenth Celebration,” the joint statement says.

“We ask our members, participants and the public to continue to respect Erie’s Juneteenth Celebration, a celebration of freedom, by not bringing a protest (or counter protest) to Perry Square on Saturday, June 14,” the statement says.

Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@gannett.com.