Harrisonburg-Rockingham NAACP host Juneteenth celebration in Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, Va. (WHSV) – Dozens gathered in Bridgewater for a freedom celebration on Juneteenth.

The Rockingham-Harrisonburg NAACP branch hosted a day of celebration for locals to commemorate the federal holiday. Food, music, and festivities attracted the public to Oakdale Park in hopes of keeping tradition.

Cameron Gordon, President of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham NAACP recognizes the importance the holiday has in the local community.

“We thank Joe Biden for making it a federal holiday, but even before that, we were celebrating because it is tradition,” said Gordon.

Following the Emancipation Proclamation, not all slaves were freed. On June 19th, 1865, Union Troops in Confederate Texas freed more than 250,000 African American Slaves. Since then, the day was decreed as Juneteenth and celebrated as the end of Slavery. This is the third year since President Joe Biden signed the federal order into law.

“We just want membership strong,” Gordon says. He goes on to say a goal for having this event was to boost membership in their NAACP Branch.

” The more members we have the more people have a chance to put their voice out at events like this.

Myowne Moats says the holiday is a testament to freedom for many and urges the public to research the history behind the holiday.

“1865″ She says, “That’s enough said. Chains were broken” Moates also says.

But celebrations at Oakdale Park were not only for African Americans.

“Juneteenth is a very important holiday to the African American culture but it’s not like just for African Americans- it just represents the fact that on this day we were free,” said Shamika Hayes.