Juneteenth National Independence Day

[Jersey Girl]

Today President Biden signed the law finally making Juneteenth a Federal holiday. Long overdue if you ask me. I was just watching this current Colbert...

Song Of The Summer: Opal Lee Rejoices As Juneteenth Becomes A National Holiday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSb4-1OTyQk

I'll admit that I've never thought of celebrating Juneteenth. Have you? I guess I thought that it didn't involve me but my thoughts have changed about that. There's going to be three days of festival in our general area but it's downtown where parking is limited, would have to walk a fairly long distance in the heat to the festival area (not possible for hubs over here) and we're still avoiding crowds re: pandemic.

What are some ways that we as individuals can celebrate Juneteenth?

Does anyone have a book, documentary, or film recommend that would be a way to meaningfully commemorate Juneteeth at home? My heart and mind is in the right place, I just don't know how to go about it.

Ideas?

I do have AA family members I will be asking about this, too. If I hear of any good ideas from them I will share them here.

Please help make this thread productive. Given the topic, please do not make comments intended to incite on this thread.

[Icarus]

The documentary on Netflix called "The 13th"

[Jersey Girl]

Here's another informative and instructive video about Juneteenth. Covers multiple topics.

Can You Hear Us Now: Juneteenth Edition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqmNpQR9H3E

[ajax18]

There's going to be three days of festival in our general area but it's downtown where parking is limited, would have to walk a fairly long distance in the heat to the festival area (not possible for hubs over here) and we're still avoiding crowds re: pandemic.

I guess it's probably best that you didn't go downtown.

Six Shot, One Killed Near Juneteenth Celebration in Oakland

Six people were shot, one of whom died, on Saturday evening near a Juneteenth celebration at Oakland’s Lake Merritt.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported:

Oakland police received reports of shots fired in the 2200 block of Lakeshore Avenue at 6:22 p.m. Saturday, police said, just as roughly 1,000 people were celebrating around the lake.

The gunfire victims were five males aged 16 to 27, and one 21-year-old woman, police said.

The shooting sent hundreds of people running away from the scene. By 7:30 p.m., police had largely locked down the scene with police tape and the commotion had subsided.

Mayor Libby Schaaf condemned the shooting, saying that the “joyous occasion at our Lake Merritt was marred by a senseless act of gun violence.” Large crowds had spent the day in the area celebrating the first federally designated Juneteenth holiday.

Crime has skyrocketed in Oakland, as in other major cities, since the unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota — and the “defund the police” movement that has seen many police forces under new pressure.

“Through May 23,” the Chronicle reported on May 31, “the city had recorded 51 homicides for the year, a 132% increase compared with the same period last year and a 70% increase compared with 2019. San Francisco, across the Bay, will consider a proposal this week to cut police funds and use the money to pay for “community-led” homeless responses.

https://www.breitbart.com/crime/2021/06 ... n-oakland/

[Chap]

Four shot, one dead, in Oakland, California, police say

A Juneteenth celebration was scheduled nearby on the shore of Lake Merritt.

June 20, 2021, 6:45 AM CEST
By Dennis Romero
Four people were shot, one fatally, in the vicinity of Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, where a Juneteenth celebration was scheduled Saturday, police said.

"One of the victims was pronounced deceased at the hospital," the Oakland Police Department tweeted.

Emergency operators fielded calls about shots fired along the northeast shore of Lake Merritt about 6:22 p.m., according to NBC Bay Area.

A Juneteenth celebration was scheduled nearby at the Lake Merritt Amphitheater, featuring DJ D Sharp of the Golden State Warriors. Police made no connection between the events.

So if Jersey Girl had been at the Juneteenth celebration, no problem.