Legion FC To Wear Civil Rights Institute-Themed Kit On Juneteenth

BIRMINGHAM, AL — As a part of the continued community partnership with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Birmingham Legion FC will wear a redesigned, limited-edition kit with the Institute’s logo emblazoned on the back in its match on Saturday at BBVA Field versus Austin Bold FC.

The jersey is grey, with the new BCRI logo between the shoulder blades, a patch with match details on the chest, and “18 – Juneteenth – 65” on the lower back in honor of Juneteenth, i.e. the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

"On June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas to announce that the Civil War had ended, and slaves had been freed," said DeJuana Thompson, Interim President & CEO of the Institute. "Though president Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation became law in January 1863, it was not enforced in places still under confederate control. Thus, it took over 2 years for approximately 250,000 Texan slaves to learn their freedom had been secured by the government."

Following the match, each of the game-worn, player-signed jerseys will be up for auction, and all proceeds will go directly to the Institute.

"We’re honored to continue our partnership with an organization as distinguished as the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute," Jay Heaps, Legion FC President and General Manager said. "We want to thank the Institute, President Thompson, and Board Chair Isaac Cooper for coordinating a recent tour of the Institute for our players and staff. The BCRI continues to do inspiring work to educate and combat social injustice and racial inequality, and we are proud to support them in their efforts."

Legion FC is a corporate member at the Institute, and the full team and technical staff went on a guided tour of the Institute June 9. The club’s other jersey sponsors, Red Diamond, Buffalo Rock and Mercedes Benz of Birmingham approved the commemorative kit and stand with Legion FC in support of BCRI.