Framingham Hosting Two Juneteenth Events

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham will host two Juneteenth celebrations over the weekend, and both events will incorporate elements of protests seen across the country following the deaths of George Floyd, Breona Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Rayshard Brooks

Juneteenth, observed every year on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended. That first Juneteenth came two years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed some slaves, but left others in southern states in chains.

Texas was the last state the Union Army reached, and so the 1865 declaration was seen as the real date slaves were freed, according to the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation. The day is now recognized as a holiday or day of observance in 45 states. Massachusetts officially began recognizing the holiday in 2007.

The first Framingham celebration will begin Friday at 5 p.m. with a standout with signs at the corner of Waverly and Concord/Irving streets (Routes 135 and 126). The event is being sponsored by Massachusetts Standing Up for Racial Justice and cohosted by First Parish Unitarian Universalist church. Find details on the Facebook event page.

The second celebration will take place starting at noon on Saturday at Cushing Memorial Park. At around 1 p.m., participants will march up to Bowditch Field then to the downtown area. The march will repeat up to four times before a 2 p.m. rally at Memorial Hall downtown. Find details on the Facebook event page.

Both Framingham Juneteenth celebrations require attendees to wear face coverings and observe social distancing guidelines.