Washington celebrates Juneteenth

Washington held its first official Juneteenth celebration Saturday, marking the spread of a long-held holiday only recently reaching the mainstream.

African American Museum of Iowa founder Thomas Moore, who spoke at the event, said Juneteenth had long-standing roots, but exploded into the mainstream after the summer of 2020.

“I think Black Lives Matter had a big part to do with it,” he said. “All of the people that were involved with the demonstrations that were not African American has brought more to light and more acceptability to the cause … people have seen the need for social justice and for change.”

Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday last Thursday, two days after a proclamation to the same effect by Washington Mayor Jaron Rosien.

“Today is not just another day in June,” Rosien said in a speech. “It is a recognition of progress. Progress of that word of emancipation reaching the people enslaved in Galveston, Texas. And today is a dedication, to progress still needed and progress yet to come.”

Washington Mennonite Church the Rev. Nicholas Stoddard said the celebration was, for him, an observation of faith, comparing the end of slavery in the United States to the book of Exodus.

“Many people of faith are wondering if anti-racism work, if holidays like Juneteenth are part of our faith tradition,” he said. “There are many people who ask it in earnest. There are unfortunately some who ask it in anger, but I would respond with a gracious and resounding ‘Yes.’”

Social justice activist Ture Morrow said the spread of Juneteenth to new communities was monumental.

“You could be doing anything right now, you could be anywhere, but you’re right here with us,” he said to the crowd. “I want to really express how much I appreciate being here for your start of celebrating Juneteenth.”

Morrow, a prominent speaker from Cedar Rapids, said he was happy to see the turnout in Washington, a crowd of roughly 100 gathered in Central Park.

“There’s a small Black population in Cedar Rapids just like there’s a small Black population in Washington, Iowa,” he said. “It’s different, but it’s also the same. I’m speaking to the same people, I’m speaking to the same crowd. It’s the same demographic: I’m speaking to our allies, people who we need to come out and help.”

Musician Kevin Burt, who performed at the event, said it was important to celebrate the holiday as a unified community.

“The acknowledgment of slavery being abolished is something everyone should celebrate and want to celebrate,” he said. “It shouldn’t be a Black thing, it should just be a thing that the country celebrates collectively. We’ve always celebrated things like the Fourth of July collectively, this is another day that’s remarkably similar.”

Burt said he was happy to help spread Juneteenth to communities like Washington, celebrating it this year for the first time.

“It’s not expected,” he said. “If nothing else, it reminds people to at least have a conversation.”