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By Kristina Garcia and Kim Pham | 16 hours ago

Today, Orange County residents are celebrating Juneteenth.

Sometimes called Emancipation Day or Americas second independence day, Juneteenth is recognized as a holiday or day of observance in 48 states and the District of Columbia.

Juneteenth is especially resonant this year as Black Lives Matter protests continue in communities throughout the country.

Given Orange Countys traditionally strained relationship with Black residents and a long history of KKK chapters throughout the county, the BLM protests have special import here as they place a new generation of Black residents on center stage to focus on issues of police budgeting and use of force like never before.

But what is Juneteenth exactly?

On Jan. 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln formally issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all enslaved people from the Confederate states and declaring their freedom in America now and forever. However, issuing the document wasnt an immediate fix.

In 1863, news traveled slowly across the United States. And it wasnt uncommon for slaveholders to withhold this information from enslaved people until the end of harvest. Texas, the westernmost slave-owning state, was among the last to receive word of the proclamation.

On June 19, 1865, Gordon Granger, a Union Army general, finally arrived in Galveston, Texas where he issued the order from the president of the United States. He not only announced the end of the Civil War but revealed that enslaved people were to be freed.

Image courtesy of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission

General Orders, No. 3. U.S. House, 54th Congress, 1st Session (H. Doc. 369, Part 2). General Order Number 3, 1896. U.S. Documents Collection. Y 1.1/2: SERIAL 3437

Although Gen. Grangers orders didnt immediately free them, they did spark celebration for newly freed Black people, and since then June 19, or Juneteenth, has been marked as the day of commemoration for the end of slavery.

Justice Crudup, a Black Lives Matter activist based in Anaheim, said he believes that June 19 should be recognized as a national holiday for many reasons.

I think a lot of American culture has engulfed and promoted Black culture without actually pledging allegiance to Black intellect and Black heritage, Crudup said.

The recent protests across the nation, sparked by the death of George Floyd, have come to represent a momentous event in civil rights history. They are reminiscent not only of the 1960s civil rights movement, but also of the uprisings in the 1800s which led to the Emancipation Proclamation.

Crudup and his family started celebrating Juneteenth on the 13th, and will continue their celebrations throughout the weekend a common custom. He said that while the 19th was the big hammer on the nail, with Lincolns signing of the executive order, it is important to remember and acknowledge the significance of the fights and the activism that took place to make it happen.

There were many other factors, many other big events that led up to Juneteenth in history. There were a lot of slave rebellions, a lot of marches, there were a lot of civil rights movements that led to the Emancipation Proclamation, Crudup said.

Even though in-person celebrations and gatherings have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, people can commemorate Juneteenth by educating themselves and those around them.

Visit theThe Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture. All day on Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 2020, they will host an online celebration where they (bring) the Museum to you through presentations, stories, photographs, and recipes from the Sweet Home Caf.

Check out Observing Juneteenth in 2020 , a story recently posted by PBS. It includes informative videos about this day.

Engage with the black community in Orange County and learn more about black history by visiting the websites of these Orange County based organizations:

I think what Americans should be doing is not only watching your standard documentary about Black history but engaging in conversations with individuals who may not understand the full scope of Black history and how it has basically been destroyed within the American curriculum, Crudup said.

Crudup said that Americans look at slavery, Jim Crow laws, and Martin Luther King Jr., and think that is Black history. But there are many more people and events that they should familiarize themselves with to broaden their perspectives.

Despite recurring proposals across multiple administrations to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday, the issue is still the subject of debate. Crudup said that Americans should be questioning this unacceptable status quo.

I think Americans should want to question it. Why is Juneteenth not a national holiday? I mean, who is preventing it? Why has it been such a hard thing to swallow in the past? Crudup said.

If people dont know where weve been, then we arent looking at our history, then how the heck are we going to know where to go for progress?

For people who are looking to gather from a safe distance, the Orange County affliate of Susan G. Komen will be hosting a virtual Juneteenth on June 19 from 6 to 7 p.m on Facebook and YouTube Live.

Susan G. Komen partnered with the OC branch of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and the OC Heritage Council to help bring on Dr. Veronica Jones M.D. from City of Hope and Letitia Clark, Tustin mayor pro tem, for a question-and-answer panel which will will dive into discussions about breast health disparities among the Black community and other relevant topics.

Black Lives Matter protesters are embodying the spirit of the holiday by continuing their activism through the Juneteenth weekend. Individuals can attend one of five protests coming up at the end of this week in Buena Park, Irvine, Seal Beach, Newport Beach and Santa Ana.Most of these protests encourage the use of face masks and social distancing to adhere to COVID-19 safety measures.

Below is a chart of all protests in Orange County and their specific times:

Kristina Garcia is an intern for Voice of OC Arts & Culture. She can be reached at kristinamgarcia6@gmail.com.

Kim Pham is an intern for Voice of OC Arts & Culture. She can be reached at kimhphm@gmail.com.

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Celebrating Juneteenth in the Midst of the Black Lives Matter Movement - Voice of OC

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For Kamor Olayokun, an assistant principal at P.S. 78 in Stapleton, this years Juneteenth was an opportunity for him to teach fellow students of color about black history first hand, and give them a chance to rewrite it.

Olayokun, his students, and about a hundred other Staten Islanders descended on Richmond Terrace Friday to paint the citys second Black Lives Matter street mural at the base of Borough Hall, Staten Islands courthouses and the 120 Precinct.

This is history for us, this is our opportunity of changing the narrative for young people of color so we had to be here, said Olayokun, who brought along a group of 10 high school, middle school and elementary students of color to help paint the mural.

This is another way for them to express themselves and to be heard, a lot of this work is not in the textbooks, but heres their opportunity to rewrite the textbooks, he said.

Many longtime Staten Islanders who showed up Friday said they would have never imagined a phrase honoring black people on Juneteenth, the day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, would ever be written on one of the most important areas on Staten Island.

I never thought [this mural] would actually happen, especially it being Juneteenth, said lifelong Staten Islander Tracy Henriquez or West Brighton. It just resonates all the more and really solidifies that I am a true Staten Islander and its a real melting pot and people can embrace everyone.

North Shore Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-Staten Island) said she chose the location for the Islands Black Lives Matter street mural to make a statement to those going to and from the Staten Island Ferry, heading to the boroughs seat of government, seeking justice at the Islands courthouses and in front of the 120 Precinct, which she said has disproportionately policed the Islands black community for years.

For [the mural] to be at the front door of the 120th Precinct where many of the officers worked that were involved in over-policing of black communities, this speaks volumes, Rose said. This is a constant reminder of how important Black Lives Matter is and its especially significant on Juneteenth.

Following nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd, a black Minneapolis man who died at the hands of a white cop, who kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced one street in every borough would be renamed Black Lives Matter and a road would be painted to match the sign.

The mayor paid a visit to the borough Friday to help paint the Islands new mural and unveil its new Black Lives Matter Plaza street sign at Wall Street and Richmond Terrace outside of the 120 Precinct.

SOME WONDER WHERE THE OTHER ISLAND LEADERS ARE

Aside from de Blasio, the only other elected officials who attended the street mural painting were the boroughs two black politicians -- Councilwoman Rose and Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore).

Some Staten Islanders said they were upset that the 10 other borough lawmakers did not show up, especially fellow North Shore lawmaker State Sen. Diane Savino and Borough President James Oddo, whose office sits right above the street mural.

Michelle Akyempong or Arlington. who attended some of the Islands police accountability protests in recent weeks, said she was not satisfied by Island elected officials response to the protests.

Im not satisfied with the electeds out here, I think they should be doing more, this is an election year, were theyre constituents, they should be concerned about their constituents especially on the North Shore, said Akyempong.

We also have a state senator who should be out here [Diane Savino] maybe shes doing something, but I think that sometimes you just have to come out and show support for the people who have voted for you. The borough president, Akyempong continued.

Savinos office said the state senator did not receive an invitation to the street painting, while Oddos office did not return requests for comment about why he did not attend.

Ryan Lavis, a spokesman for District Attorney Micheal McMahon said McMahon was unable to attend because of previously scheduled matters but applauded the work of the volunteers who showed up Friday.

The Islands seven other lawmakers either did not return requests for comment about their whereabouts at press time or said they were not invited to the street painting.

Councilwoman Rose, who organized Fridays event, admitted she did not extend the invitation to fellow elected officials, including Assemblyman Fall, but said they should have known about the widely publicized event and come on their own.

ISLAND LEADERS LACK OF ATTENDANCE SHOWS DISCONNECT WITHIN COMMUNITY, ROSE SAYS

Rose said their lack of attendance showed a disconnect within the Staten Island community.

The fact that anybody would think that they had to have an invitation to be here, especially an elected official, I didnt reach out to Charles Fall, the fact that were still thinking in silos and thinking in color, along racial lines, she said.

This is not a black event because if this is a black event then the message is being missed, she said.

We dont need hope, we need eminent change, said Taiwan Prince of St. George. We need to teach people to not only paint these words today, but respect them going forward.

We have to be ready to truly break down these systems, said City Council candidate Amoy Barnes. We can sit here and march until the cows come home but if were not ready to get in there and do the disciplined work, its not going to happen. We have to work together.

FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER.

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Hundreds gather to paint Black Lives Matter across Richmond Terrace to mark Juneteenth - SILive.com

HONOLULU (KHON2) Hawaii State Department of Health announces 18 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, June 18.

Officials said the surge was expected due to the reopening of the state and the Black Lives Matter protests the first week in June.

Lieutenant Governor Josh Green said Hawaii could see numbers like this for the next several days. He is urging the public to be especially vigilant this weekend to help bring those numbers back down.

On Saturday, June 6th an estimated 10,000 people gathered supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement marching together from Ala Moana to the State Capitol. The day before the protest marched in Waikiki with roughly 2,000 in attendance. Twelve to thirteen days later a spike in positive cases of coronavirus.

Eighteen new cases today and its in effect the result of the protests. And then of course theres a small surge at a nursing facility, so the combo is 18 cases, Green explained.

The spike uptick in cases is no surprise. Green warned it would happen.

You have to expect these small surges if people do end up out-and-about without significant social distancing.

Green said he the surge could last from three to five days but believes it will be short-lived.

He said the fact that the protest coincided with reopening dine-in restaurant service was unfortunate.

My hope has always been to add only one significant variable at a time since we opened restaurants and that we knew would have some small increase. But Im not going to criticize people for exercising their freedom of speech, their right to gather together and to protest injustice.

Even though its not ideal, Green is not overly concerned.

Weve done an incredible thing, which is get through phase one with 17 fatalities only. There are definitely going to be a few people that succumb to the virus, but we can keep that number very low if we dont forget that COVID is around.

He said Hawaiis healthcare facility resources are ready.

Were still only about 50 percent of our intensive car units being used and only about 12 percent of our ventilators. Were fine from a healthcare standpoint.

But he said, its important to remember that social distance and the need to wear masks wont be changing any time soon.

Its going to be like this for the rest of the year. There are going to be moments where we have surges but I would be super mindful that we dont have a consistent surge that would jeopardize our healthBeing careful is the key and I will put every protocol in place to reduce the risk. But that still could spread here between us when were being carefree. Green explained.

He suggests doing something peaceful and quiet this weekend and stresses the importance of avoiding crowds. If you are going to be around others, Green said dont forget your mask.

There are currently 105 active cases, out of 762 total cases in Hawaii.

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Lawmaker says Black Lives Matter protest likely contributed to spike in COVID-19 cases - KHON2

March and rally in support of Black Lives Matter movement set for Saturday

Overland Park residents have organized a march to support the Black Lives Matter movement for Saturday, June 20, called The Overland Park Advocacy and Awareness March: A Community Commitment.

Lead organizer Linnaia McKenzie, a black woman and Overland Park resident, said in a press release the march is a call to action and a way for people to support the movement beyond social media. Although shes seen the respectful and welcoming side of the city, McKenzie said her experience with discrimination goes beyond the police department.

Ive also experienced discrimination at the mall, grocery store and my local gym places where a community member should feel safe, McKenzie said. Its time to start discussion how we can overturn systemic racism, racial profiling and social injustice, not just in policing but in our community as a whole.

The rally will feature a number of speakers including U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez and Fred Jones, Sr., president of Johnson County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Below is a schedule of events for the march and rally:

Additional event information can be found on the Facebook event here.

The city of Roeland Park is currently accepting applications for its Neighbors Helping Neighbors program, which provides financial assistance to eligible residents for home improvements.

Residents can receive anywhere from $500 to $2,000 for home improvement repairs such as driveway and sidewalk repairs, exterior painting and modifications to aid physically disabled persons. Non-eligible repairs include new construction, pools, sewer line replacement, foundation repair or household appliance upgrades.

There are three gross income tiers, each with different maximums based on household size. Households with four people in the following tiers can receive the below award amounts:

Additional income information and applications can be found here. To apply for the program, submit applications, proof of all income sources and a copy of homeowners insurance to Roeland Park city hall in person or by mail. Online applications can be accepted via email at wholtkamp@roelandpark.org.

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March and rally in support of Black Lives Matter movement coming to downtown Overland Park June 20 - Shawnee Mission Post

Syracuse, N.Y. Theyre waving signs that proclaim, Black Lives Matter and chanting the name of George Floyd, whose May 27 death at the hands of white police officers in Minneapolis has sparked national outrage and protests.

Theyre marching by the hundreds through the quiet streets of some Central New York towns and villages demanding equal treatment for people of color and an end to police practices they say unfairly target blacks.

They're gathering in suburban parks to hear the stories of those who are often barely visible in their communities.

And they're overwhelmingly white.

Over the last several weeks, several thousand people have turned out young and old, male and female for marches and events in Baldwinsville, Camillus, Chittenango, Cazenovia, Fayetteville, Manlius and Skaneateles. Its an unprecedented public support of a cause that in previous years might have drawn only marginal interest from white America and not the kind of visible gatherings being seen in suburbs and rural towns

Marchers in Baldwinsville during a Black Lives Matter event on June 2,.Carly Madden

The CNY protests are happening in communities that are 84 percent to 97 percent white.

I think there is a consensus that there is something different going on, said Cornell government professor Jamila Michener, who has studied and written about poverty, racial inequality and public policy. Whether it is a watershed moment in American history remains to be seen, she said.

Nationwide, the protests against the killing of George Floyd and police brutality have not been limited to cities or largely black communities. Demonstrations have sprung up in suburban and rural communities. In some places, the demonstrations have been met with counter-protesters.

In Skaneateles Sunday, a crowd of 300 to 500 - some estimate as many as 800 - marched through village streets holding signs and chanting.

The march, organized by seven college-age village residents, ended at Clift Park, beside picturesque Skaneateles Lake, where speakers delivered a message about ending racism and, with it, a double-standard of treatment for a large segment of society.

"It exceeded all of our greatest expectations," said Madison Rhoad, a 2018 graduate of Skaneateles High School who along with seven high school friends created a group called Skaneateles for Social Justice on Twitter and Facebook.

Skaneateles might be the very definition of white privilege, said Rhoad, who will be a sophomore at Fordham when she returns to school. The village is 97 percent white.

It would be very easy for our community to gloss over this, she said.

The Sunday march attendees included the villages Republican mayor, Martin Hubbard, who a week earlier had issued an apology after being caught on video tearing down flyers the group posted downtown advertising the event. The flyers violated a village ordinance, and Hubbard said he was simply enforcing the law and didnt mean his actions to be a slap at the Black Lives Matter movement.

"This is a transformative moment in time, and we all need to do everything we can to further a just and equal society," his statement read.

Elizabeth Erdmann (right) holds a sign for motorists to see at a roadside protest along Genesee Street in Fayetteville on Wednesday.Nolan Weidner

In Fayetteville, protesters have gathered daily in front of the Matilda Joslyn Gage House since June 3 to wave signs at vehicles passing through the village on Route 5 and encourage motorists to support the BLM movement. Gage, who lived in Fayetteville in the 1800s, was an activist who worked to abolish slavery and fought for womens right to vote.

William Sunderlin, a Fayetteville resident who teaches at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and describes himself as a progressive social activist, has been one of those protesters.

Sunderlin, 66, said he has not seen whites become so involved in what could be seen as a black movement since the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

"Progressive people in white enclaves have always wanted a more diverse community," he said, adding that the Fayetteville community has a strong history of involvement with the abolition of slavery.

In a way, he said, the suburban protests are more challenging than attending events in downtown Syracuse, where more people are already on the same page.

Fayetteville resident William Sunderlin holds a sign along Genesee Street in the village Wednesday.Nolan Weidner

If nothing else, standing along Route 5 holding a Black Lives Matter sign offers passing motorists a visual contradiction that gives them something to think about as they drive along, Sunderlin said.

While the responses have been, more often than not, a thumbs up and honking of a horn, the roadside protesters said they receive some abuse, including obscene gestures and shouts of all lives matter from passers-by.

On Thursday afternoon, one angry driver revved his truck and swerved at one of the sign-holders who stood in a grassy area between the sidewalk and the street. Demonstrators contacted police but no charges were filed.

Sally Roesch Wagner, a longtime feminist, activist, educator, author and founder of The Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation and Matilda Joslyn Gage Center for Social Justice Dialogue, sees the white involvement in the BLM protests as a possible turning point.

"We may have reached a tipping point, culturally, where racism is no longer acceptable," Roesch Wagner said.

Roesch Wagner, a veteran of anti-war and womens rights protests in the 1960s and 1970s, said there is a difference for her in the current movement.

I always felt in the minority then, she said. I feel absolutely in step right now.

In Fayetteville and Manlius, former F-M student Leila Abdul-Malak has organized a march and a community dialogue event called Facing Racism in the wake of the killing of Floyd and, more recently, the June 12 fatal shooting by Atlanta police of Rayshawn Brooks as he ran from officers who were trying to arrest him.

Abdul-Malak said she originally wanted to attend protests in larger cities.

"I realized that systematic racism is everywhere," she said. "I think these protests should be happening everywhere."

Abdul-Malak had help from Manlius Town Board members Sara Bollinger, John Deer, Elaine Denton, Katelyn Kriesel and Heather Waters, a group of Democrats who say they are determined to work toward change in the way the community polices itself, provides affordable housing and educates its young.

"There are real conversations that are happening," said Waters, 42, who was elected to her first term on the board last fall. "This isn't about partisanship. The end is all about our values, and our values are not partisan."

Waters said the hope is to convince residents of wealthier suburbs that they have an equal role in changing perceptions of race.

"You're not just not racist, but the shift now is to become anti-racist," she said.

Curtis Chaplin, a leader of Last Chance for Change, which has done nearly 20 straight days of marches in Syracuse against police violence and systemic racism, is happy to see the support.

I think that its very great that its started to pick up in the suburbs, because thats where most of the voters are. ... Those are some of the places that we cant get into, that we dont like to get into because of the discrimination, he said. So being now that they are beginning to protest and stand up and show solidarity means more than anything.

Cornell government professor Jamila Michener, who has studied and written about poverty, racial inequality and public policy. Courtesy Cornell UniversityCourtesy Cornell University

Michener, the Cornell professor who has tracked and studied protests throughout the country, said studies have shown that there is more agreement between younger people those between 18 and 34 about issues such as the justice system being less fair to people of color.

And she thinks that is why many of the local marches have been spearheaded by young people and why the white community has become so involved.

There is also a social media component, where videos of events such as the brutal killing of George Floyd or the shooting of Rayshawn Brooks are available for all to see.

But will the movement last in the white suburbs?

For that to happen, Michener said, there will have to be a more organized effort.

Theres a real question about whether this is a moment, a flare-up vs. a tipping point, she said. I dont think there is an answer to that question yet.

The real work of changing attitudes in police departments, getting schools to hire more black teachers or making more affordable housing available in communities requires sustained effort.

"I don't think we get the transformative change until there is some redistribution of power and resources," Michener said.

She remains on the fence about what the past three weeks has meant.

Its hard to be hopeful, she said, when looking at the long history of black suffering. But when she sees what is happening between blacks and whites of all ages at peaceful rallies or marches, Its hard to be hopeless.

Syracuse.com | The Post-Standards Patrick Lohmann contributed to this report.

Nolan Weidner is a reporter for the Syracuse Post-Standard and syracuse.com. Got a comment or idea for a story? He can be reached via email at nweidner@syracuse.com.

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Crowds show that this time black lives matter in CNYs white suburbs, too - syracuse.com