For the second year in a row, Easton celebrated Juneteenth with a downtown parade.
The parade honored the spirit of those who fought for freedom and equality, according to a notice about the event on the website Juneteenth Lehigh Valley.
The parade on Sunday, June 16, came three days ahead of the June 19 federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Blacks and enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, received word that the Civil War was over and they’d been freed. The date became known as America’s second Independence Day.
Easton’s parade route was slated to start at Walnut and Ferry streets, according to city councilman Frank Pintabone. The route was slated to head east, where Walnut Street meets with Northampton Street. It was slated to continue east on Northampton Street, around Centre Square and wrap up at Larry Holmes Drive.
Floats, music and marchers were slated to join in a “spectacle of joy and solidarity, featuring a diverse array of participants,” according to the Juneteenth Lehigh Valley website.
Take a look at the photos above for a flavor of the free event.
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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
Check out was real simple, can't wait for the tote bag