Juneteenth was recognized at the State Capitol in Olympia on Thursday with speakers, food, and a list of speakers.
“Juneteenth marks the moment the last slaved people of the United States finally learned” Finally learned they were free from Slavery, it was 1865.
Dr. Lawrence White is Bishop at The Hilltop Community of Tacoma “Today we stand united to commemorate this momentous occasion and acknowledge there’s still much work for us to do.”
Events like this at the State Capitol acknowledge the past but focus on the future.
“Equity and Justice isn’t a game to me” Megan Matthews is the acting director of the State Office of Equity “There are too many people suffering and struggling, and those of us in public service: we’ve got work to do.”
Dr Marcia Tate-Arunga, an Academic Dean at Evergreen College, praised the fortitude of those slaves who survived “They would summon all of their sacred energy to remain alive.” She told the crowd “So, that they could bring forth new generations that would one day celebrate Juneteenth.”
Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Washington last year. It will be observed on the June 19th.
