2 days ago
Springfield Juneteenth Jubilee Committee hosts annual flag raising ceremony
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno joined the Springfield Juneteenth Jubilee Committee to proclaim June 13 as Juneteenth Jubilee Day in Springfield.
This was one of many celebrations leading up to June 19 in the city. June 19, 1865, marked the official end of slavery in the U.S. Although President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 to free all enslaved people, it had little impact in Texas. That was the last state to be liberated by Union troops, and the end of slavery didn't mean the end of injustice.
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'In Springfield, it was tough living here if you were black,' said Jimmie Mitchell, Springfield Juneteenth Jubilee Committee Member. 'I got my license, and my dad, who only went to the third grade, came up to me and said, 'Jimmy, you do not go past the railroad tracks.' The railroad tracks were where Magazine Park is now. It wasn't against the law, but the police would stop you if you tried to go past there.'
After State Representative Bud Williams helped make Juneteenth a state holiday, a year before it was federally recognized, Springfield has welcomed a diverse community. That is why the Springfield Juneteenth Jubilee Committee used June 13 to celebrate Black History with a flag raising at the Black and Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Mason Square.
The celebration included prayer, songs, and remarks from the youth as well as local and state leaders. The organizers told 22News that they strive to always host a flag-raising ceremony at Mason Square because it is known to be the heart of Springfield.
'Now it's important for us together, as your senator, I need all of you to remember to step forward and step up. even in rooms where some of us are not going to be,' said Senator Adam Gomez.
Other Springfield Juneteenth celebrations include an Adult Day Block Party on Friday on State Street and Ben Swan Way, Family Fun Day on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on 1758 Roosevelt Ave, and the Juneteenth Jubilee Father's Day Brunch from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Dunbar Community Center.
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