Juneteenth, is celebrated on June 19th each year. According to Wikepedia,  Juneteenth is celebrated annually on the 19th of June in the United States to commemorate Union army general Gordon Granger's reading of federal orders in the city of Galveston, Texas, on 19 June 1865, proclaiming that all enslaved persons in the State of Texas were now free.

Although the Emancipation Proclamation had formally freed them almost two and a half years earlier, and the American Civil War had largely ended with the defeat of the Confederate States in April, Texas was the most remote of the slave states, with a low presence of Union troops, so enforcement of the proclamation had been slow and inconsistent.

Because of the murder of George Floyd and the resurgent Black Lives Matter Movement increased emphasis is being placed on Juneteenth this year. Here are some events that are taking place today, June 19, 2020. (If you are hosting an event that is not included, please email chris.popper@townsquaremedia.com so it may be added below)

At 10 a.m. there will be a small gathering in Southwest Harbor in front of the Harbor House

Juneteenth Gathering in Southwest Harbor June 19, 2020 Photo Diana Novella
Juneteenth Gathering in Southwest Harbor June 19, 2020 Photo Diana Novella
loading...

At 2 p.m. today, the Bar Harbor Congregational Church located in downtown Bar Harbor will be ringing the Church bells at 2 p.m. to celebrate Juneteenth and then hosting a Facebook Live Question and Answer session on their Facebook Page

At 4 p.m. there will be a Juneteenth Peace Rally in Ellsworth. The plan is that at 4 p.m. interested parties will meet at Ellsworth City Hall. At 5 p.m. there will be a march onto State and Main Street sidewalks with the procession meeting back at City Hall for speakers.  In the Facebook Event, organizers are asking participants to wear black, bring signs and Masks are REQUIRED.

From one of the organizers post on the Ellsworth People for Justice and Equality Facebook Page

We will gather on the grass at City Hall at 4:00 pm. It will be hot, so please make sure you have water. We will have some water to refill your bottles and a limited amount of bottled water in case you forget. Please remember a mask is required to participate. Please wear black. At 4:15 we will begin the "Say Their Names" ceremony, by saying all the names of black lives murdered by police the past 10 years. Each name will be read, a singing bowl rung and the crowd will respond "Say Their Names" as we acknowledge the over 100 black lives murdered by police. We will then march to Main Street and again this week plan to fill both sides of Main Street, being physically distant by 6 feet and not blocking entrances to businesses on Main Street. Our time on Main Street will be peaceful, remaining on the sidewalks and for the most part silent. Instructions will be given prior to heading to Main Street. At 5:00 pm we leave Main Street and head back to City Hall for a couple of speakers and music, still working on that. A donation bucket will be passed around for donations so we can pay black musicians for future weekly rallies. No spontaneous speakers. Thanks to all who donated for megaphones. We have one for tomorrow, waiting for others to arrive.

At 6 p.m. Indivisible MDI is hosting Juneteenth Emancipation Recognition and Bell Ringing on the Village Green in Bar Harbor. From the Facebook Event Page "We will gather at 6 p.m. to hear recordings of Black voices and a symbolic bell-ringing at 6:19 for 19 minutes. Masks and social distancing are required. "

WDEA Ellsworth Maine logo
Enter your number to get our free mobile app

More From WDEA Ellsworth Maine