Council approves Juneteenth event
LANSDALE >> A Juneteenth commemoration in Memorial Park on Saturday has gotten the go-ahead.
Borough council voted unanimously Wednesday night to approve the borough’s second-ever event commemorating June 19.
“I’d like to invite everyone to the Juneteenth events taking place this weekend. Everyone, come out and celebrate Juneteenth,” said Mayor Garry Herbert.
Earlier this month council heard details of the planned Juneteenth commemoration, meant to recognize the end of slavery at the close of the Civil War in 1865.
The event will be hosted by the Lansdale Black Business Association, members of which organized the first-ever formal celebration of Juneteenth in town in 2020, a solidarity march up and down Main Street. During that event last year, Herbert read a borough proclamation recognizing the day, and borough officials, residents and businesses subsequently discussed ways to build on protests in 2020 to better recognize and fight inequality and racism.
Councilwoman Mary Fuller, chair of the parks and recreation committee
that vetted the event, read the formal motion authorizing the use of Memorial Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with setup to begin at 10
a.m. The day will include music, food, crafts and culture, with special guest speaker and indigenous cosmologist Dr. Pawahtuun
Xi Amaru, and those interested in learning more can follow the Lansdale Black Business Association on Facebook.