Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that enslaved people were now free, two and a half years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. The event will also include a celebration of Naperville's rich diversity by including spoken word, musical, and dance and performances by the many African-American individuals and groups in the community. The event will also feature speakers from some of our elected officials as well as other leaders in the community.
