Word that slavery was over finally reached the last enslaved people in America on June 19, 1865 – two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. But 155 years later, the fight for freedom and equality rages on in cities and towns across the nation.
In Central Indiana the Juneteenth holiday, celebrating the liberation of those enslaved people in Texas, was marked by celebrations large and small. Events ranged from a few dozen – mostly young, mostly white people – gathered on the historic square in suburban Noblesville to a “block party” event on Indianapolis’ east side celebrating Black-owned businesses and the city’s Black culture.
In the evening, protesters continued their near-nightly routine of marching through downtown Indianapolis.
They came to celebrate the liberation of those enslaved people, but also to keep pushing for change.
“We as Black people in America are the furthest thing from free,” said NiSean Jones, speaking to a group of about 30 gathered at Monument Circle.
'We are still trying to get free': Black Americans continue fight for equality on Juneteenth
This year's Juneteenth celebration comes at a pivotal moment in the United States. In recent weeks, Americans have taken to the streets to protest against systemic racism, police brutality and related issues, while states and a number of prominent companies have moved to make Juneteenth a paid holiday.
“This cannot be the pinnacle,” said Indiana Supreme Court Justice Steven David at an event that brought out members of the city’s legal community. “This cannot be the end. This cannot be the beginning.”
“Go to work making our world a better place, a more just place,” David said. “You must be the person you want the world to see.”
He spoke to a group of around 100 people on the lawn in front of the Indiana University McKinney School of Law, hosted by a group called Indy Lawyers for Black Lives.
Protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement have taken place in downtown Indianapolis nearly every day for weeks, since George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis. Organizers and activists in Indianapolis have called for policing reform and for officers to be held accountable in the case of Dreasjon Reed, a Black man shot and killed by an officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department after a chase.
IMPD said that Reed fired on the officer first.
Reed's family on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the City of Indianapolis. the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Police Chief Randal Taylor, Deputy Chief Kendale Adams, Officer Dejoure Mercer and Officer Steven Scott are all listed as defendants in the lawsuit.
IMPD has identified Mercer as the officer who shot Reed, and Scott as the officer who made an inappropriate "closed casket" comment about Reed's body after the shooting. Taylor and Adams were involved in the early stages of the police pursuit that preceded Reed's death.
While the Black community has long celebrated Juneteenth as a day of freedom and liberation, those out celebrating Friday said this year felt different.
Trey Hester helped organize the inaugural Juneteenth Freedom Festival, which brought out Black-owned businesses and food vendors for a day of family-friendly fun on the city’s east side.
Hester said that Juneteenth has not been a big, public event in the past. He usually celebrated with just family and friends, but this year he and other organizers wanted do something bigger and go all out with the spirit of Juneteenth.
“We liked the concept of block parties, with food and a neighborhood vibe,” Hester said.
In predominately white Noblesville, a conservative suburb in Hamilton County, the turnout was small – a dozen or more teens, a few families and two Democratic candidates running for positions in the Indiana General Assembly.
Still, it was the first Juneteenth event in the city that Ronnie Saunders recalls. He said he thinks the ongoing conversation around race relations has brought more attention to the occasion and caused more people – even those who don’t look like him – to become involved and speak out.
“I am a black man who has experienced racism,” said Saunders, who is running for the Indiana Senate District 20 seat. “On a personal level, you’re tired of seeing it. You’re tired of feeling it. I just want to enjoy America like everybody else does.”
The Noblesville event was organized by two teens who said they wanted to help raise awareness and educate people about both the holiday and the fight for equality that’s ongoing.
Lauren Silvia, a 17-year-old recent graduate of Noblesville High School and 19-year-old Mikayla Ulery organized the event. They said they’ve been harassed online by people who were opposed to their message and they were told counter protesters would come out.
There was no organized opposition, but several people walking and driving by expressed disdain.
The driver of one car passing by the small crowd holding signs in front of the old courthouse building yelled “All Lives Matter” out of his window.
“Until we’re a system where everyone is equal and treated with equity under law then people aren’t truly liberated,” Silvia said. “We’re halfway there.”
The Juneteenth Freedom Festival was underway on East 38th Street in Indianapolis. It is expected to be a block party celebration.
IndyStar journalists Tiana Woodard, Arika Herron, Robert Scheer, MJ Slaby, Jenna Watson and Ethan May contributed.
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