Lee County hosts 2nd Annual Juneteenth Community Parade and Festival

Lee County hosts 2nd Annual Juneteenth Community Parade and Festival
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LEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) – In honor of Juneteenth, many counties in Southwest Georgia are hosting special events ahead of the federal holiday.

It was important to the organizer of this festival to have Juneteenth fully recognized in Lee County. In 2023, Trish Batten spearheaded her initiative to make sure the Juneteenth holiday was not forgotten.

“I feel good that we have been able to change lives, break barriers. It’s not only black people but it’s all of us united and coming together for the common cause. I went before the commissioners and the city council members, and we asked if we could have a day for all county employees,” Batten said. “We fought for that. The commissioners allowed us to take that day off. Then we asked about the parade, and I’m elated with what God has done in Lee County.”

Other attendees like Congressman Sanford Bishop hope that more meaningful events will help stimulate cultural appreciation and community awareness.

“I think that this is another step in bringing our country together in recognizing the rich diversity that makes up the fabric of the United States population,” Congressman Sanford Bishop said.

For some, like entrepreneur Ashlea Spivey, Juneteenth is more than a day. It’s an unerasable part of their personal history.

“I am only two generations away from the struggle. This really is such a highlight to my family and the community when we are able to produce our own products and do it in a quality way,” Spivey said.

Nearly 159 years after the final slaves were freed, Juneteenth represents recognition of past history and the promise of a bright future.

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