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Juneteenth Events Planned Throughout The Dayton Area

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Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S.

Communities across the country are celebrating Juneteenth today. Several events are planned throughout the Dayton area this weekend.

Donald Domineck, chairman of the Dayton chapter of the New Black Panther Party, is one of the organizers of a festival in Dayton View Park this Saturday from 1p.m. to 6 p.m. He said the holiday is originally about a lack of information, and that theme is especially important this year.

“It’s really more about dissemination of information to educate, enlighten, and inspire people to do better,” he said. “This is a good time to see and hear what African Americans in America are feeling: the fear, the hopelessness, the hopefulness.”

Spoken word poets and musicians will perform at the event, and food vendors will be spread out around the park. Organizers will also lead a program focused on community healing, addressing racism, police brutality, and other issues affecting the Black community. 

Everyone is required to bring their own mask and maintain social distancing at the event. Additional masks and hand sanitizer will be available.

On Friday Dayton Early College Academy is hosting its first Juneteenth celebration from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the DECA Prep campus. Attendees will be able to learn about the history of the holiday, register to vote, and fill out the 2020 census.

First Baptist Church and Central Chapel AME Church in Yellow Springs will hold a virtual discussion on the holiday over Zoom from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m Friday. Login information can be found here

Dayton’s chapter of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice will host a Juneteenth Vigil Friday at 6:30 p.m. by the fountain at RiverScape MetroPark to honor victims of police brutality. 

Toxic Brew Company and Black Lives Matter Dayton are hosting a Juneteenth Party with a Purpose, from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Chef Dane Shipp will prepare a menu of barbecue chicken, vegan pulled pork, collard greens, black-eyed pea salad, and jalapeño cornbread. A portion of the proceeds from the party will go to Black Lives Matter Dayton, and customers can register to vote at the event.

While working at the station Leila Goldstein has covered the economic effects of grocery cooperatives, police reform efforts in Dayton and the local impact of the coronavirus pandemic on hiring trends, telehealth and public parks. She also reported Trafficked, a four part series on misinformation and human trafficking in Ohio.
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