BURLINGTON — A call for unity and a plea for justice rang out this Juneteenth, as the event celebrating the end of black slavery emerged as America’s newest federal holiday.
A crowd gathered at Echo Veterans Memorial Park for a lively and emotional celebration just two days after President Joe Biden signed legislation declaring Juneteenth the nation’s first new federal holiday in nearly 40 years.
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The holiday commemorates the date in 1865 when black slaves in Texas learned of their emancipation, following the Union’s victory in the Civil War.
Marking the occasion Saturday with a combination of music and message, Burlington celebrants called for breaking down racial divisions and lifting up all people, to achieve harmony despite our differences.
The Rev. Ebenezer Insor, pastor at Burlington United Methodist Church, urged those gathered in the park on a hot Saturday afternoon to stop racial discrimination and to replace hate with love.
“Open our hearts to peace and healing,” Insor said. “Open our eyes to a new vision of this beloved community.”
Darnisha Garbade, left, president of the Burlington Coalition for Dismantling Racism, leads the festivities Saturday at her group's Juneteenth celebration, joined by a private security guard, at Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington.
The event, which was planned long before Biden’s declaration, comes at a time when Burlington is struggling with strained race relations, largely because of reported incidents of racism in the schools.
State investigators recently found a “racially hostile environment” in Burlington schools. City leaders, meanwhile, have empaneled a special task force to improve race relations in the community.
A civic group called the Burlington Coalition for Dismantling Racism organized the Juneteenth event for the second year in a row. Past hostilities directed at the coalition prompted organizers to hire private security guards, but there were no reports of trouble during the all-day holiday celebration.
Joining a line dance Saturday at Juneteenth festivities in Burlington are Makalaya Howard, 9, from left, Mariah Robinson, 12, Jendora Kelley and Tecia Sellers, during one of many musical moments in the all-day celebration at Echo Veterans Memorial Park.
The event brought together a diverse crowd of people, including whites and blacks, young people and old.
Darnisha Garbade, president of the BCDR, said she was happy to see people of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds coming together to celebrate racial equality.
“This is how our whole country should be,” she said. “This is how our whole world should be.”
Garbade noted that lingering tension and division in Burlington prove that much work remains to be done. But she said there have been signs of progress recently, too.
“They’ve had an awakening,” she said.
Harley Bagley, 5, right, of Milwaukee, checks her moves with other dancers on stage Saturday during the Burlington Juneteenth celebration at Echo Veterans Memorial Park.
The event at Echo Park commemorated the first Juneteenth national holiday with a combination of music and dance, punctuated by messages of social and political relevance.
Musical performer Omar Tatum opened the festivities with a rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” sometimes referred to as the “black national anthem.”
Kenda Dues, who traveled from Racine to join the celebration with her husband, Ken, said hearing Tatum’s performance brought her to tears, thinking about the historic struggle for racial equality that continues to this day.
“There’s hope and there’s faith that things can change,” Dues said, “that true freedom can be possible.”
Other speakers discussed police violence and mass incarceration, both issues that affect black people significantly.
Tajzee Strong, the reigning Miss Black Wisconsin USA and a Milwaukee resident, spoke about the years when women of color were prohibited from participating in beauty pageants.
Strong urged those attending the Juneteenth event to stand together and continue fighting for equality and justice.
“It’s our job, as our community, to be there for each other,” she said. “We are in this together.”
Photos: Second-ever Juneteenth celebration in Burlington draws a diverse crowd to mark holiday
Welcoming sign at Burlington Juneteenth event at Echo Park in Burlington
A welcome sign greets patrons at Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington for the second annual Juneteenth event presented Saturday by the Burlington Coalition for Dismantling Racism.
Harley Bagley, 5, joins other dancers on stage at Burlington Juneteenth event
Harley Bagley, 5, right, of Milwaukee, checks her moves with other dancers on stage Saturday during the Burlington Juneteenth celebration at Echo Veterans Memorial Park.
Brooke Bell and mother Monique Abujana and friend Casey Sellers at Juneteenth
Enjoying a moment in the sun during the Burlington Juneteenth celebration are Brooke Bell, from left, her mother, Monique Abujana, and friend Casey Sellers, during the all-day event Saturday at Echo Veterans Memorial Park.
Organizer Darnisha Garbade welcomes crowd at Juneteenth event in Burlington
Darnisha Garbade, left, president of the Burlington Coalition for Dismantling Racism, leads the festivities Saturday at her group's Juneteenth celebration, joined by a private security guard, at Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington.
Hannah McMartin and father Bill McMartin at Juneteenth event in Burlington
Hannah McMartin, left, joins her father, Bill McMartin, both of Burlington, while taking in the music, dancing and messages of the Burlington Juneteenth event Saturday at Echo Veterans Memorial Park.
Dance troupe Signature Dance entertains at Burlington Juneteenth event
Members of the Signature Dance dance troupe deliver a performance Saturday at Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington during the Juneteenth holiday celebration.
Jacob Mersberger and Jeanne Heyer have fun in photo booth at Burlington Juneteenth
Jacob Mersberger, left, and his wife, Jeanne Heyer, of the Town of Spring Prairie, have fun Saturday at the Yellow Bus photo booth for 1960s flashback photo poses during the Burlington Juneteenth celebration.
Line dance gets people moving at Juneteenth event in Burlington
Joining a line dance Saturday at Juneteenth festivities in Burlington are Makalaya Howard, 9, from left, Mariah Robinson, 12, Jendora Kelley and Tecia Sellers, during one of many musical moments in the all-day celebration at Echo Veterans Memorial Park.
Colorful balloon display at Juneteenth event in Burlington
A colorful display of balloons and curtains brightens up Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington for Saturday's all-day Juneteenth celebration presented by the Burlington Coalition for Dismantling Racism.
Donald Lee of Big Daddy's BBQ at Burlington Juneteenth celebration
Donald Lee, owner of Big Daddy's BBQ and Soul Food, manages the grill Saturday at Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington during an all-day Juneteenth celebration.
Casey Sellers and others dancing at Burlington Juneteenth event
Casey Sellers, left, joins other dancers on stage Saturday for a musical celebration during the Burlington Juneteenth celebration at Echo Veterans Memorial Park.
Ken Dues and Kenda Dues of Racine relax at Juneteenth event in Burlington
Ken Dues, left, and his wife, Kenda Dues, of Racine, relax and watch the festivities unfold Saturday during a Juneteenth holiday celebration at Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington.
Tajzee Strong reigning Miss Black USA contestant from Wisconsin
Tajzee Strong, the reigning Miss Black Wisconsin USA, pauses at Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington after addressing the crowd Saturday during a Juneteenth holiday event.
Sunshine Tidwell, 2, and Morgyn Oberlin, 11, dance on stage at Burlington Juneteenth
Sunshine Tidwell, right, who turns 2 next month, gets her moment to dance on stage, joined by Morgyn Oberlin, 11, during a break Saturday in the Burlington Juneteenth celebration at Echo Veterans Memorial Park.
June 21, 2021 at 10:00PM
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