CARAVAN ROLLS ON

Juneteenth event promotes justice, equality throughout Lorain County

Vehicles lined up at Elyria City Hall on June 19 in celebration of Juneteenth, a holiday dating back to 1865 commemorating the end of slavery.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m., the Caravan for Justice and Equality started off from Elyria, headed south to Oberlin and then through Lorain

Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield led the way as more than two

dozen vehicles were guided on their way in honoring and remembering the end of slavery in the United States as the country is in a period of intense dialogue about racism.

Caravan participants were able to tune in to WNZN 89.1 FM and WSAV-LP 93.7 FM for a live simulcast of the event.

Routes were established with

the expertise and cooperation of the appropriate local governing authorities, including safety forces, organizers said.

Juneteenth is the oldest holiday in the United States, marking the end of slavery.

On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news of the end of the

Civil War, and all enslaved peoples were now free.

General Granger read General Order Number 3: “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them that becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”

KEVIN MARTIN — THE MORNING JOURNAL A motorist participates in the Juneteenth Caravan for Justice and Equality on June 19at Elyria City Hall, 131Court St.

KEVIN MARTIN — THE MORNING JOURNAL Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield leads the way in the Juneteenth Caravan for Justice and Equality and holds up a sign on June 19 .