Juneteenth event in Portsmouth includes march over bridge, rededication of African Burying Ground
PORTSMOUTH. YOU’RE COMING BACK TO THE OFFICE. GEE MILL. THINGS HAVE WRAPPED UP NOW FOR THE DAY, BUT WHAT A GREAT DAY IT WAS. IT’S JUST INCREDIBLE TO WATCH THIS EVENT GROW YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND THIS DAY REALLY IS ABOUT LIBERATION. IT’S KNOWN AS FREEDOM DAY WITHIN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AND IT’S A DAY THEY’VE BEEN CELEBRATING FOR OVER 150 YEARS. JUNETEENTH IS KNOWN AND CELEBRATING JUNE 19TH, 1865, TWO MONTHS AFTER THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR AND TWO YEARS AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, WHEN 2000 TROOPS MARCHED TO GALVESTON, TEXAS, AND TOLD THE LAST GROUP OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE THEY WERE FINALLY FREE. HERE IN PORTSMOUTH, IT’S THE LARGEST CELEBRATION IN THE STATE EACH YEAR, AND IT STARTS WITH A MARCH IN KITTERY OVER THE MEMORIAL BRIDGE HERE TO THE AFRICAN BURYING GROUND IN PORTSMOUTH. I’M TOLD THIS YEAR IT WAS THE LARGEST MARCH THEY’VE HAD TO DATE. THIS MEMORIAL PARK HONORS THE LIVES OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE BURIED BENEATH THE GROUND. HERE AGAIN, JUST A BIG CELEBRATION IN PORTSMOUTH. AFRICAN DRUMMING AND DANCE, WHICH IS SO COOL TO SEE IF YOU HAVEN’T SEVERAL SPEECHES MADE BY ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL AND FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND A REDEDICATION OF THE AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND MEMORIAL PARK FOR ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY IN THE CITY, THE BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, ALSO UNVEILING ITS NEW AUGMENTED REALITY OUTDOOR MUSEUM, WHICH BRINGS THE AREA’S HISTORY TO PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR SMARTPHONE. NOW AGAIN, THE EVENT HAS WRAPPED UP FOR THE DAY HERE, BUT THEY SAY THIS IS A DAY REALLY JUST HONORING AMERICAN HISTORY, AND IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE TOUGH AND SOMETIMES
Thursday is Juneteenth, the federal holiday that marks the day the last group of enslaved people in the U.S. became free.It represents a day of liberation for the African-American community. It’s something people have celebrated for more than 150 years.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<Juneteenth commemorates the events of June 19, 1865, two months after the end of the Civil War and two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. On this day 160 years ago, 2,000 troops marched to Galveston, Texas, and told the last group of enslaved people they were finally free.Organizers said Juneteenth is a day that truly honors American history as a whole, and it brings to light the importance of engaging in tough and sometimes uncomfortable conversations about the topic.The largest Juneteenth celebration in the state is held each year in Portsmouth.On Thursday, participants started marching in Kittery and walked over the Memorial Bridge to Portsmouth’s African Burying Ground, a memorial park that honors the lives of enslaved people buried beneath the ground.>> Subscribe to WMUR’s YouTube channel <<Organizers said this year’s march was the largest they have had to date.Events included African drumming and dance, several speeches made by organizations and local and federal elected officials, and a rededication of the African Burying Ground for its 10th anniversary in the city.The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire also unveiled its new augmented reality outdoor museum, which brings the area’s history to people through their smartphone.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. —Thursday is Juneteenth, the federal holiday that marks the day the last group of enslaved people in the U.S. became free.
It represents a day of liberation for the African-American community. It’s something people have celebrated for more than 150 years.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
Juneteenth commemorates the events of June 19, 1865, two months after the end of the Civil War and two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. On this day 160 years ago, 2,000 troops marched to Galveston, Texas, and told the last group of enslaved people they were finally free.
Organizers said Juneteenth is a day that truly honors American history as a whole, and it brings to light the importance of engaging in tough and sometimes uncomfortable conversations about the topic.
The largest Juneteenth celebration in the state is held each year in Portsmouth.
On Thursday, participants started marching in Kittery and walked over the Memorial Bridge to Portsmouth’s African Burying Ground, a memorial park that honors the lives of enslaved people buried beneath the ground.
>> Subscribe to WMUR’s YouTube channel <<
Organizers said this year’s march was the largest they have had to date.
Events included African drumming and dance, several speeches made by organizations and local and federal elected officials, and a rededication of the African Burying Ground for its 10th anniversary in the city.
The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire also unveiled its new augmented reality outdoor museum, which brings the area’s history to people through their smartphone.
