Cohen Commemorates 149th Anniversary of Juneteenth
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today commemorated the 149th anniversary of Juneteenth and recognized the 21st Annual Celebration of the Memphis Juneteenth Freedom & Heritage Festival, known this year as the Juneteenth Urban Music Festival. Juneteenth, observed on June 19th each year, is the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Congressman Cohen’s statement follows:
“On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced in the town square that all slaves were free. Although this came nearly three years after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, the newly freed men and women rejoiced in the streets with jubilant celebrations, and thus, the Juneteenth holiday was born.”
“This year, the Memphis Juneteenth celebration was very different from past celebrations. First, the Board of Directors changed the name of the celebration from the ‘Juneteenth Freedom & Heritage Festival’ to the ‘Juneteenth Urban Music Festival.’ Second, the celebration took place in the Robert R. Church Park on Beale Street in Downtown Memphis instead of the historic Douglass Neighborhood, where the celebration has taken place for the past twenty years.”
“The importance of this change in location to the Robert R. Church Park is especially significant to the celebration of this important day in history. Robert R. Church was born in Memphis on October 26, 1885 and soon became a prominent civil rights leader in the City of Memphis and in the State of Tennessee. In 1916, he founded the Lincoln League, which helped African Americans in the Memphis area by organizing voter registration drives and paying poll taxes for those who could not afford it. Through the Lincoln League alone, he enabled thousands of African Americans in the Memphis area to exercise their right to vote in local, state and national elections. However, his work did not stop there. In 1917, he chartered the first Tennessee chapter of the NAACP in Memphis. Two years later, his dedication to the organization and its mission was recognized when he was elected to serve on the national board.”
“Robert R. Church continues to be a prominent and revered political figure in Memphis because of his work to make the processes of government inclusive to all members of society, regardless of race or social class. As such, the Juneteenth celebration this year focused on the same mission: expanding the Juneteenth celebration so that thousands more people may take place in this joyous celebration. This year, the celebration included a variety of musical performances varying from gospel performers to neo soul artists. In addition to these performances, the celebration offered a poetry slam and a showcase featuring majorettes, drummers, cheerleaders, and steppers. By appealing to all members of the community and relocating to a larger space, the Juneteenth celebration provided the people of Memphis with a celebration that was consistent with the mission of Robert R. Church: a mission of inclusiveness that we should all strive for as we continue to serve the people of our great nation.”
“This is a time to commemorate the end of slavery in America and to recognize the many contributions of African-American citizens. I ask my colleagues to join me in observing our nation’s 149th anniversary of Juneteenth and the 21st annual celebration in Memphis.”