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JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A celebration of freedom and community togetherness kicked off Johnstown’s scheduled seven-day Juneteenth gathering Thursday.

Festivities were held at downtown’s Central Park and featured food, merchandise and information vendors along with musical entertainment.

Juneteenth commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas in June 1865, and more generally the emancipation of slaves throughout the Confederate South.

This year’s theme is “Johnstown: I Am Juneteenth 1865–Forever.”

“Juneteenth is the emancipation of African Americans here in the United States, and it’s held every year with the importance of being ready to be free,” said Alan Cashaw, president of the Johnstown Branch of the NAACP.

“If you’re ready to be free, you’re going to vote, have employment, pay taxes, have health care, have education, have the freedom of religion, have housing, live in whatever state you want and operate whatever business you want. That’s what it means to be ready to be free, to practice all those things that citizens do.”

He said holding a seven-day event offers a good celebration of freedom.

“It’s not a flash in the pan,” Cashaw said. “In those seven days, we bring out cultural items, African dance and clothing, and they’re all important. We also have a health fair so people can know their blood pressure and glucose level and understand it, because Type 2 diabetes runs rampant in the Black community.”

Representatives from Victim Services Inc. were on hand to discuss services.

“A lot of people come down for this event, so we want to make sure we spread awareness to all populations, especially those who we don’t see on a normal basis,” said Jasmine Kyle, a trauma therapist with Victim Services Inc. “This event is important for education, and it’s nice to be connected with everyone and meet new people.”

The group was handing out Juneteenth bracelets and flags, bubbles for children, water and organization literature.

“The community has been receptive to us and telling us we’re doing such great things, so that’s good to hear,” Kyle said.

Debbie Morgan, a family service health specialist with Community Action Partnership Head Start, said it’s beneficial for the organization to participate in Juneteenth activities.

“It’s a good place to make some contacts with families who may need our program,” she said. “An event like this is important to promote the area, and it shows there’s support within the community for everybody. We’ve made some contacts for our program by coming here with getting their child enrolled in our program, so it’s been a benefit.”

Venus Hall, owner of the online shop Orange Peels, was vending at the event for the first time, offering pillows, pillow covers and home decor.

“Being a part of Juneteenth is important to me because of my ethnicity,” she said. “I hope everybody will come out and have a good time, will mingle together and celebrate freedom.”

Cashaw said the festivities provide an opportunity to connect with the community.

“It’s just an amazing event,” he said. “Neighbors meet neighbors; they recall who they are, what they did and why they know each other. That’s brilliant and what’s important.”