[Juneteenth Celebration 2023]
[00:00:03]
A SATURDAY MORNING PARADE IN THE STREETS OF GRAND PRAIRIE COMMEMORATES THE CITY'S ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION.
THE 2023 EDITION IS THE SECOND TO BE HELD SINCE JUNETEENTH BECAME A NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN 2021, A TEXAS HOLIDAY SINCE 1979.
IT OBSERVES THE HISTORIC DATE OF JUNE 19TH, 1865 WHEN US ARMY GENERAL GORDON GRANGER READ THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION IN GALVESTON, OFFICIALLY ENDING SLAVERY IN TEXAS IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
IT MEANS A WEEKEND OF EVENTS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE VERY POPULAR PARADE THAT STARTS AT CITY HALL, PASSES THROUGH THE HISTORIC DOW WORK NEIGHBORHOOD, AND CONCLUDES AT TYREE PARK THERE.
IT'S AN AFTERNOON FULL OF FOOD FELLOWSHIP AND FUN THAT FEATURES GUEST SPEAKERS, A PROCLAMATION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, AND SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF A RECORD NUMBER OF SIX SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS IN THE ANNUAL JUNETEENTH ESSAY CONTEST.
ALL OF IT TO HELP DEMONSTRATE AND CELEBRATE UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO REMEMBER A VERY SIGNIFICANT DATE IN THE HISTORY OF TEXAS AND AMERICA.
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TOOK THAT STEP.
IT WAS A VERY BIPARTISAN EFFORT BACK IN 2021 TO GET IT PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE AND SENATE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, PRESIDENT BIDEN DECIDED IT TO LAW AND IT JUST MAKES IT BIGGER.
AND HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE, AS Y'ALL CAN SEE, IT'S GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERY YEAR.
IT'S JUST A GREAT DAY TO CELEBRATE NOT ONLY FREEDOM AND UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT UNITY ABROAD.
AND SO I'M JUST GRATEFUL HOW HIS FRIEND NATIONAL HOLIDAY, NOT ONLY IN TEXAS ANYMORE, BUT JUNETEENTH IS CELEBRATED ALL OVER THE WORLD.