City Of West Hollywood To Host Pan-African Flag-Raising Ceremony In Recognition Of Juneteenth On June 19

West Hollywood CA

15 June, 2022

7:50 AM

Description

Press release from the City of West Hollywood: June 13, 2022 The City of West Hollywood invites community members to attend a Pan-African Flag-Raising Ceremony in celebration of the Juneteenth holiday on Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 10 a.m in the auto court behind West Hollywood City Hall, located at 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard. The Ceremony will commemorate and honor the historical significance of Juneteenth and serve as a gathering space for residents, community members, activists, and organizers, as well as elected officials, dignitaries, and members of the City's Commissions, Advisory Boards, and Social Justice Task Force. Juneteenth – also called Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, and Black Independence Day – is recognized on June 19 each year marking the date when some of the last enslaved people in the Confederacy were notified of their freedom on June 19, 1865. Juneteenth is recognized annually to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States and represents a special day of reflection. Juneteenth is not only a reminder of a painful chapter in American history, but it also serves as an opportunity for people to recommit to combat all forms of modern-day slavery, human trafficking, and racial injustice. In June 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill to recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday. In June 2020, the West Hollywood City Council established Juneteenth as an observed holiday in West Hollywood. In January 2022, the City Council approved direction to initiate steps to recognize Juneteenth as an official City holiday, which will require forthcoming amendments to the City's Municipal Code. The Pan-African flag was designed to represent people of the African diaspora and consists of three equal horizontal bands of red, black, and green. The three colors of the flag symbolize: red for the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry and has been shed for liberation; black for the people whose existence as a nation, though not a nation-state, is affirmed by the existence of the flag; and green for the abundant natural wealth of Africa. The City of West Hollywood has a decades-long commitment to promoting social justice and equal rights. The City works diligently to advocate for the fundamental rights of community members and to speak out against injustice and the City has a legacy of supporting initiatives that highlight inclusivity and equality, including hosting panels about racial equity, police violence, and criminal justice reform in recognition of Juneteenth. The City prides itself on being a safe and affirming space for everyone and has a core value of respect and support for people. For additional information about the Pan-African Flag-Raising Ceremony in celebration of the Juneteenth holiday, please contact Jasmine Duckworth, the City of West Hollywood's Community Programs Coordinator, at (323) 848-6559 or at [email protected]. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing please call TTY (323) 848-6496. The City of West Hollywood remains in a declared local emergency in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. West Hollywood City Hall is open for in-person walk-in transactions at public counters or by appointment; to make an appointment, visit www.weho.org/appointments. City Hall services remain accessible by phone at (323) 848-6400 and via the City's website at www.weho.org. City of West Hollywood coronavirus updates are available at www.weho.org/coronavirus. For up-to-date news and events, follow the City of West Hollywood @wehocity on social media, sign up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City's calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar. For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood's Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or [email protected]. This press release was produced by the City of West Hollywood. The views expressed here are the author's own.