Ribbons in the Sky

7501 Harrison St,Forest Park IL 60130

12 June, 2021

Description

We ask the community to participate in our interactive public art project hung on the fence, at the top of Circle Bridge across from the CTA In celebration of Juneteenth, we invite you to participate in “Ribbons in the Sky,” an interactive public art project at the top of Circle Bridge across from the CTA station exit from June 12th thru June 20th. Read the pledge accountability pledge from Forest Park Against Racism, take a ribbon and sign your name, and then tie your ribbon to the bridge as a sign of your commitment to anti-racism. Find anti-racism resources at fppl.org/juneteenth. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 19th, 1865 (Juneteenth) is when enslaved African Americans of Galveston, Texas learned they were free - the news erupted into a history-making celebration known as “Juneteenth.” The formerly enslaved African Americans rejoiced and declared that day “Freedom Day,” “Emancipation Day,” or Juneteenth (“June” plus “nineteenth”). It had been nearly 2 ½ years after the Emancipation Proclamation that enslaved Texans learned that they were in fact free. That hopeful day in June marked the end of slavery and the beginning of freedom. Juneteenth celebrates and commemorates black culture and reinforces black history as American history. Juneteenth creates space for education, advocacy, and healing. Celebrating Juneteenth provides a unifying platform for all Americans to celebrate our common bond of freedom. In 2008, along with a group of community residents, then Commissioner, Mayor Rory Hoskins founded the Annual Forest Park Juneteenth Pool Party. Since then, the annual event has energized other surrounding communities to host their own celebrations in honor of Juneteenth’s historical significance.