Church of Scientology Community News: Juneteenth Celebrations

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States, according to juneteenth.com.  Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863.

Today, Juneteenth is celebrated in African American communities across the country. In Nashville, there are two events planned this year to commemorate the occasion.

The first, on June 15^th is the annual Juneteenth Harmonic Fitness Fun Day which, according to its website www.june19teenthnash.com, “brings together a celebration of history, health, and harmonies.”  The stated purpose is to increase awareness of ongoing health and wellness issues.  The celebration plans to provide a short history of Juneteenth, health screenings, wellness information, athletic demonstrations and interactive music.  The event is free, open to everyone and will be held at Hadley Park from 9am-12pm.

The following Saturday, Juneteenth will be celebrated at Fort Negley. On June 22^nd, from 10am-3pm, there will be a program with multiple choirs, speeches, reenactments by a President Lincoln look-alike, games, food and a special tour of the Fort.  Everyone is welcome and this event is also free.  Dr. Tommie Morton-Young, who received the Human Rights Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 will deliver the Keynote Speech.