Juneteenth in Warren celebrates freedom

WARREN — Organizers say Saturday’s 7th annual Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom at Quinby Park on the West Side is important for historical and contemporary reasons.

“It’s a celebration of our freedom from slavery, but it’s also about what we do today,” said Mary Ann Franklin, president of Community Concerned Citizens II, the event’s sponsor.

Franklin said Juneteenth was the name given to the week from June 13-19 by former slaves in Texas to observe the week they learned about their freedom. The Texas slaves did not learn they had been freed until 1865, two years after President Abraham Lincoln delivered his Emancipation Proclamation.

“After their freedom, the slaves encouraged their families to be educated and that is what we are doing today,” Franklin said.

The day-long celebration included music and youth activities along with speeches and displays on health, education and money by representatives of the Trumbull County Health Department, the Warren YMCA, and the Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority.