Pritzker, Welch celebrate Juneteenth at Hillside Memorial Park District
In the western suburbs, Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel 'Chris' Welch joined local families at Hillside Memorial Park District for Welch's fourth annual Juneteenth celebration held at the park.
Pritzker: 'Abraham Lincoln is the one who signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Our greatest president. What state was he from?'
Crowd: 'Illinois!'
Pritzker: 'Alright. What was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment, ending slavery?'
Crowd: 'Illinois!'
The event featured activities for the entire family, from a performance by the Jesse White Tumblers, to a litany of local food and art vendors for attendees to peruse, and free haircuts from James Blakes the Mobile Barber.
Juneteenth celebrates and honors African Americans' journey to freedom in the United States. On June 19, 1865, word finally reached the last enslaved African Americans in Texas that their emancipation was made formal, which officially brought an end to slavery nationwide.
'I just think it's really important that we keep this going and keep growing all of the traditions that we have for this,' Blakes said. 'And Juneteenth, it needs to be cherished. You know, it's a very important thing for the African American community.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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