SE Valley Times

The City of Mesa, Mesa Community College (MCC), and the Mesa-East Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee (MLK) are hosting the First Annual Juneteenth Celebration to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. The free event will take place on June 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Mesa Community College, Southern and Dobson campus. A brief program at 7:15 p.m. will include a City of Mesa proclamation commemorating Juneteenth.

“Mesa’s diversity is one of the strengths of our community, and I’m proud of the City’s work to advance issues of equity and ensure all people are treated fairly,” said Mayor John Giles. “Juneteenth is a monumental event in the history of America that reminds us not to lose focus on those values. I’m very happy the City is partnering with the MLK Committee and MCC for the new community event, and I’m pleased to proclaim June 19 as Juneteenth Celebration Day in Mesa.”

The Juneteenth Proclamation commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. June 19 marks the anniversary of Texas being the last state to have President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation announced in 1865, notifying enslaved people of their freedom.

“This Juneteenth proclamation carries the spirit of hope and an ongoing commitment to ensuring we all have access and freedom to live, learn, earn, persevere, and prosper in this society,” said Keisha McKinnor, Chair of the Mesa-East Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee. “It celebrates the amazing resiliency of Black Americans on our continual journey in pursuit of liberty and equality."

This year’s theme, Rooted in Resilience, embodies the strength, determination, and perseverance of Black communities throughout history. It acknowledges the challenges Black communities have overcome and the progress they continue to make. By embracing resilience, we honor those who fought for freedom and justice while recognizing ongoing struggles for equality.

In 2016, Arizona became the 45th state to observe Juneteenth as a holiday. In 2021, it became a federal holiday when President Biden signed Juneteenth National Independence Day into law.

The celebration at MCC will include several activities:

- Special edition planetarium show “Journey to Freedom: Navigating by the Stars”

- Kids Zone with games

- Health screenings

- MCC’s acclaimed DJ music performance

- Arts and Culture vendors

- Food trucks

To facilitate public participation, Lyft is offering a $10 discount on rides to the event for up to 100 users using code MESAJUNETEENTH when booking their ride on June 19.

More information about this celebration can be found at mesaevmlk.org/juneteenth.