CHICAGO, June 20 (NNN-XINHUA) – Thousands gathered in downtown Chicago and at several other events throughout Chicago on Friday, to mark Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S.
At Grant Park in downtown Chicago, a number of government officials, including Illinois Governor, J.B. Pritzker, and U.S. Senator, Tammy Duckworth, led a march through the park in honour of Juneteenth.
The marchers chanted the names of black men and women killed by police officers across the United States, and said “too many.”
In Daley Plaza, thousands of people chorused in chants and songs.
On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, Major General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, which announced that, in accordance with the Emancipation Proclamation, “all slaves are free.”
Currently, Juneteenth is recognised by 46 states and Washington, D.C. as an official state holiday or observance.
The focus of the events across Chicago varied from police reform, equity in black communities, celebration of independence to remembering George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck on May 25.– NNN-XINHUA
