Amid nationwide conversations on race, St. Joseph celebrates Juneteenth

This year's celebration at John Lucas Park was one of the most attended as well as the most diverse according to organizers

Though it may have been the day after, st.

Joseph celebrated juneteenth today.

Good saturday evening, thanks for joining us i'm ron johnson.

With so much talk of racial injustice this year the commemoration has a whole new energy.

Here's more from john lucas park.

<<ron johnson reporting it was a juneteenth celebration like no other, i think that it's important cause people are more aware now.john lucas park filled with people of all colors celebrating the 155th anniversary of the end of all slavery in the u.s. here in st.

Joseph though, it was an event that almost didn't happen.

Two three months ago, it was cancelled due to covid-19but more recent events including the deaths of breonna taylor, ahmaud aubrey and george floyd sparking nationwide protest and conversations on racial inequality brought more attention to the event.

Its main organizer said she had just over a week to put the whole thing together i just hoped online and asked the community can you help me do thisthis was the result.

A picnic with fun and food, as well as a chance to networki mean i figured i had something to say i might as well put it on a t-shirt.this man who runs a small t-shirt business says the unity is good for his sales.

We're all just rallying together and doing the bast that we can.

And speaking of having something to say, voter registrars were also on hand making sure people make their voices heard this elections year.being upset is fine but in order to take action you need to register and you've got to get out there and vote.

Given the social climate, those who put this on said its so important to celebrate juneteenth now more than ever.

Sot >> despite concerns over covid-19 organizers said attendence was high, they said it was also the most diverse they've