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Juneteenth: Its History and Significance Today

The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln declared all slaves freed. (via wikimedia)
The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln declared all slaves freed. (via wikimedia)

June 19th, or Juneteenth, is the celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. It marks the day the last slaves were freed in Texas, June 19th, 1865.

After the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis last month triggered a wave of protests across the country, there’s a renewed push to make Juneteenth a national holiday. 

90.7’s Talia Blake spoke with Florida Representative Geraldine Thompson about the history of Juneteenth and its significance today.

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via City of Ocoee Facebook Page[/caption]

The Juneteenth Rally for Peace will begin Friday at 10 a.m. at Bill Breeze Park in Ocoee. Representative Thompson will be holding the two hour event in partnership with the City of Ocoee. The event is free to attend, and if you plan on attending, you are required to wear a face mask and follow social distancing guidelines.

After a brief stint as Morning Edition Producer at The Public’s Radio in in Rhode Island, Talia Blake returned to WMFE, the station that grew her love for public radio. She graduated with a double-major in Broadcast Journalism and Psychology from the University of Central Florida (Go Knights!). While at UCF, she was an intern for WMFE’s public affairs show, Intersection. In her spare time, Talia is an avid foodie and enjoys working out.