Juneteenth now a holiday, celebrations are June 19

Tri-City area residents can participate in a Juneteenth celebration Saturday in Morgan City which will include a bike ride followed by speakers and music at Jimmie Johnson Memorial Park.
The event is scheduled to begin with a bike ride, beginning at 8 a.m., at the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Sumpter Williams Substation, the site of a former African American school. It will continue with stops at various African American businesses where a history of each will be given.
It will conclude at Jimmie Johnson Memorial Park under the elevated U.S. 90 bridge near Greenwood and Fifth streets with speakers, music and food for the public.
“We’re just happy to be able to host it,” Juneteenth Community Bike Ride committee member Ruby Maize said of Saturday’s event. “We’re looking forward to community involvement with everyone, older generation as well as kids.”
Saturday’s festivities are in celebration of the event on June 19, 1865, when Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and Union troops came to Galveston, Texas, to deliver the news the Civil War was over and slaves had been freed almost 2.5 years earlier through the Emancipation Proclamation, according to a press release from Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office.
Edwards signed into law this week House Bill 554, which became Act 128, on June 10. The new law declares the third Saturday in June as a state holiday known as Juneteenth Day.
President Joe Biden, on Thursday afternoon, signed a bill officially marking Juneteenth National Independence Day a national holiday.
Friday, state offices will be closed half a day, while beginning next year, state offices will be closed the full day the Friday before Juneteenth Day.
“We’re happy to have that done, because it’s been a long time coming,” Maize said. “Different communities and different states have their own commemoration programs, but now since it’s going to be a federal holiday, it’s a designated purpose with everyone to be involved in.”
While there is a threat of inclement weather from Potential Tropical Cyclone 3 in the southern Gulf of Mexico that is expected to move to the Louisiana coast, Maize said only activities planned for under the bridge will be held if inclement weather occurs.
If the bike ride goes as scheduled, the group will stop at the following businesses: Dalcour Cleaners (Railroad Avenue), Ruffin’s Barbershop (Railroad Avenue and Mount Street), Skinner’s Barbershop (Railroad Avenue at Poncio Street), Rita Mae’s Kitchen (Federal Avenue) and Jones Funeral Home (Sixth and Greenwood streets) before concluding at Jimmie Johnson Memorial Park.
Morgan City’s celebration isn’t the only one in St. Mary Parish as the 100 Black Men of St. Mary Parish will hold the inaugural Soulfood Festival in downtown Franklin Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The event will be held on Teche Drive between Willow and Jackson streets.
It will feature live music, soul food booths, a 5K race, health village, Juneteenth exhibit and children’s village.
J Ina, president of the 100 Black Men of St. Mary Parish, said planning for the event began in late 2020, and it just so happened to come at a time when Juneteenth is being recognized as a state and national holiday.
“We were visionaries,” he said. “We saw that coming. I’m going to claim that.”
All proceeds from the Franklin event will be used to fund the organization’s scholarships for St. Mary Parish high school students. Ina said the 100 Black Men of St. Mary Parish has given more than $95,000 in scholarships through the years.