NAACP, NDLON Ready for Friday Night’s Juneteenth Rally

The Pasadena branch of the NAACP and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) will hold a peaceful protest at 5 p.m. on Juneteenth, Friday, June 19.

The group will caravan from Lot I at the Rose Bowl through the streets of Pasadena while practicing social distancing.

The caravan will end at City Hall.

“We will present our demands for change and our actions moving forward Speakers and leaders from our community will speak to our future and the unity it will take to move forward,” said a press release.

Community leaders are scheduled to speak at the event.

Thousands of people attended a previous caravan from First AME Church to City Hall held on June 2.

Juneteenth marks the day the final slaves were emancipated in Galveston, Texas two months after the Civil War ended. The slaves there remained in bondage supposedly there were not enough Union soldiers to enforce laws freeing the slaves.

After General Lee surrendered in April 1865, and Union troops arrived, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.

However, several versions have emerged over the year explaining the delay in freeing the slaves, including the story of a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news of freedom. According to another rumor the news was deliberately withheld by the slave owners to maintain the labor force on the plantations.

Several companies, including Nike and Twitter have announced they will recognize Juneteenth as a paid holiday.

Groups have been mobilizing across the country since the officer involved death of George Floyd on Memorial Day.

Floyd’s death has once again sparked concerns about acts of violence and use of force by white police officers against African Americans.

Police placed a knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes during the arrest, despite pleas by the 46-year old father of two that he could not breathe.

During the encounter, a desperate and dying Floyd begged for his life.

“Don’t kill me,” and “Please, the knee in my neck,” “I can’t breathe.”

Bystanders pleaded to police, but they did not respond. At least one witness said the police were “enjoying that” during the incident.

Four police officers have been arrested in that incident. Other police officers around the country have also been charged in separate incidents and fired from their department.

Locally elected officials are having serious conversations about police oversight. The City Council is set to discuss that matter at Monday’s meeting.

“We ask our community once again to come join us as we protest peacefully on Juneteenth the Cel-Libration of the slaves being freed in the US. In 2020, we celebrate the achievements of  African-Americans in our community and beyond  & recognize that we still have progress to be made yes Black Lives Matter.”