KRCR: NAACP Eureka Chapter & Black Humboldt announces virtual Juneteenth 2020 celebration

Article written by ANDY KRAUSS Tue, June 2nd 2020, 8:39 PM PDT

Photo sourced from article written by ANDY KRAUSS Tue, June 2nd 2020, 8:39 PM PDT

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. — The Eureka Chapter of the NAACP and Black Humboldt announced their Juneteenth celebration will go virtual in 2020.

Black Humboldt says their celebration is an all day, community-wide event celebrating freedom, diversity and community. It will feature local people of color vendors, facilitators, music and performances. The festivities are set for June 19 from noon to 11:30 p.m.

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, which was June 19, 1865. Black Humboldt says it's a very important and empowering holiday for black and brown communities all over the country, but especially for Humboldt County because minority communities make up a very small percentage of the population, which they say causes it to be oppressed as a result.

Black Humboldt says it is important to continue celebrating black lives and black joy with the current racially fueled tragedies affecting communities of color.

The group says their goals for the event are to create safe and inclusive spaces while celebrating and educating the history of Juneteenth. They also want to unite the community with black joy while respecting social distancing rules and highlighting POC businesses, artists and community members.

The celebration's Zoom meeting ID is 06192020 for those who would like to join virtually. People can also participate by logging on to Black Humboldt's Facebook or Instagram accounts.

Click here for more information and a schedule of events throughout the celebration.