DEPTFORD — A full year after Juneteenth was named a national holiday, the date which commemorates the end of slavery was celebrated with food, music, speeches, vendors and education about the meaning of the day.
Spending time at the Juneteenth Celebration put on by DEON and Evesham Township on Saturday, Photo courtesy of Merisha Sturgis.Gloucester County NAACP President Loretta Winters address crowd at Facola Park in Deptford during the Gloucester County NAACP Juneteenth celebration on Saturday. Photo by Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography.These guys were playing some “hardball” softball at the Gloucester County NAACP Juneteenth celebration on Saturday. Photo by AC JosepH Media.Couple handing out t-shirts and supporting Juneneenth Celebration at Gloucester County NAACP Juneteenth event on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography.Sheriff Jonathan Sammons, the first Black sheriff in Gloucester County, celebrates Juneteenth at NAACP event in Deptford on Saturday. Photo by AC JosepH Media.U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross addresses crowd at Gloucester County NAACP Juneteenth event in Deptford on Saturday.Deptford Township Council member Wayne Love addresses crowd at Gloucester NAACP Juneteenth event on Saturday.
In Deptford, the Gloucester County NAACP’s celebration at Fascola Park drew some of the top politicians in the state, included U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, former New Jersey State Senate Speaker Steve Sweeney, Congressional candidate Tim Alexander, and Gloucester County Sheriff Jonathan Sammons, among others.
Gloucester County NAACP President Loretta Winters, who is also a committee chair with the New Jersey NAACP State Conference said she was not surprised how her event and others like it have grown in size and participation around the state.
Some serious tug of war going on at Ubuntu the Community Juneteenth celebration on Sunday. Photo by Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography.Cooking got into high gear at the Agape Juneteenth celebration in Mays Landing Sunday. Photo by Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography.Scholarship winner Cereya Lee recognized at Agape Juneteenth celebration at Mays Landing on Sunday. Photo by Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography.Impressive crowd gather at Ubuntu the Community Juneteenth celebration in Atlantic City on Sunday. Photo by Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography.Vendors selling Juneteenth and Father’s Day items at Agape Juneteenth celebration in Mays Landing on Sunday. Photo by AC JosepH Media.Ubuntu the Community founder Nereftiti Hathaway with friend at Juneteenth celebration in Atlantic City on Sunday. Photo by Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography.Crowd gather at Apage Juneteenth Celebration at Mays Landing on Sunday. Photo by Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography.Face painting at Ubuntu the Community Juneteenth Celebration in Atlantic City on Sunday. Photo by Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography.Vendor celebrates sales at Ubuntu the Community Juneteenth Celebration in Atlantic City on Sunday. Photo by Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography.
Winters said the need the get out not only to celebrate and share the meaning and the cause of Juneteenth was important to many of the attendees.
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas an informed them about the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing them from bondage, some two years after President Abraham Lincoln made it official.
Every county in South Jersey held a celebration honoring Juneteenth, starting earlier this month and continuing through Monday, where the federal government closed offices in its observance of the national holiday. Below are photos from the numerous ceremonies celebrating Juneteenth around New Jersey.
Art display at Camden Juneteenth Celebration. Photo courtesy City of Camden Twitter.Registration for membership taken at Cape May County NAACP Juneteenth Celebration in Whitesboro. Photo courtesy of Cape May County NAACP.U.S. Rep. Andy Kim celebrates Juneteenth with constituents on Saturday. Photo courtesy Rep. Andy Kim.Speaker addresses crowd at Burlington City Juneteenth event on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Willingboro NAACP.View of big stage at Camden NAACP event in Wiggins Waterfront Park. Photo courtesy City of Camden.Cape May County NAACP celebrates Juneteenth in Whitesboro. Photo courtesy of Cape May County NAACP.
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