WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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The city of Bloomington and IU’s Juneteenth Celebration tonight is being moved indoors, after heavy rains and floods have swept through the listening area.
The Juneteenth celebration is hosted by the City of Bloomington’s Safe and Civil City Program and the Indiana University Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. Tonight’s celebration will take place at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, on IU Bloomington’s campus.
Juneteenth is celebrated annually on June 19, and marks the emancipation of enslaved peoples in the state of Texas in 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Texas was the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday. It is now recognized in some form in 45 states.
Bloomington’s Juneteenth celebration was to initially follow the tradition of celebrating the holiday in parks; Freed people across Texas founded several parks for the express purpose of holding celebrations in the early days of emancipation. This was necessary due to segregation, which could bar African-Americans from using existing public spaces.
Bryan Park was the initial home of Bloomington’s 2019 Juneteenth celebration. In response to weather concerns, Juneteenth will now take place at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center on 275 N Jordan Avenue. The celebration will feature games and musical performances, as well as food.
Festivities will occur from 5 to 8 p.m. Parking in the Jordan Ave. garage is free for cars which leave after 7 p.m. There will also be a free shuttle which departs from the City Hall Showers Building every 20 minutes from 5 to 9 p.m.
