Juneteenth celebrations in the Palm Beach County area
RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — In just two days, Americans will celebrate Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery as a federal holiday.
This comes after President Joe Biden signed Juneteenth National Independence Day Act Thursday, saying he believes it will go down as one of the greatest honors he has as president.
READ MORE: The story of Juneteenth, America's new federal holiday
Pastor Dr. Tony Drayton of St. James Missionary Baptist Church has been waiting for this to happen for a long time.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Dr. Drayton said. “To acknowledge this day as a federal holiday is like Dr. Martin Luther King Day for example.”
He says the extra awareness will help educate people about history.
“We know far too many people who just denied these inequities and injustices ever happened. They just deny history. And they write a narrative that just transcends the reality,” Dr. Drayton said.
Many offices, including the City of Riviera Beach, will be closed Friday to observe the holiday since Juneteenth falls on a Saturday this year.
Several communities in Palm Beach County will be hosting Juneteenth events this Saturday:
- 'Juneteenth: Celebration of Freedom' will be held at Sara Sims Park in Boynton Beach, Saturday June 19, 2021 at noon.
- Juneteenth Palm Beach County is also hosting an event at Riviera Beach Marina Bicentennial Park on Saturday around 1 p.m.
- The West Palm Beach Redevelopment Agency is also throwing an event during a ribbon-cutting ceremony of Heart & Soul Park along N. Rosemary Avenue Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
