The NAACP Unit 3217B will host a community Juneteeth Celebration in Fremont on June 20 and 21.
While Juneteenth is noted as a federal holiday on June 19 for the official end of slavery in the United States, the local NAACP has a series of events planned for the upcoming weekend — in a two-day celebration.
The community celebration will include a Tribute to Negro Leagues on June 20 commemorating their history in baseball. That event will be in Rodger Young Park at 6 p.m.
Negro Leagues to be honored
Cassandrea Tucker, local leader in the NAACP, said the group will honor the Negro Leagues by representing the Cleveland Buckeyes and the Toledo Tigers. Those teams formed in the 1920s and 1930s.
On Saturday, June 21 from noon to 4 p.m., the NAACP will honor the foot soldiers in Birchard Park, 1316 Croghan St.
The NAACP also will recognize the creation of its Fremont Chapter in 1955 with the help of Griffin Graham and Charlie Lindsey.
The unit will honor past NAACP presidents, Graham (president from 1955 through the late 1960s), John Carter (the 1960s), Charlotte Wott (1970s to 1980s), Emma Jean Burel (1984 to 1987), Brenda Bilal (1987 to 1991), Solomon Woodson (1991 to 1996), Delores Burel (1996 to 1999), Dallas Leake (1999 to 2012 plus 2019) and Regina Vincent Williams (January 2019 to 2022), among others.
Car show, crafts among Saturday events
Also on Saturday there will be a car show, music, games, vendors and food trucks including Pub 400 Grub Truck and Kevin’s Kajunette. Top Notch Cheer Team will be on hand and there will be Boots on the Ground Line Dancing.
NAACP Unit 3217B also will award its scholarship at the Saturday event, Tucker said. Seven scholarships will go to five Fremont Ross students and two to St. Joseph Catholic School students.
The car show will be for cars, motorcycles and trucks. To register, email fremontnaacpunit3217@gmail.com or call 419-465-7268.
NAACP also has arranged for booths from community resources to attend.
While Tucker assured the weather will be perfect for the celebration, Saturday’s events will move to the Fremont Recreation Center if inclement weather hits.
rbrooks@gannett.com
419-334-1059
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: NAACP to host Juneteenth celebration
Reporting by Rebecca Brooks, Fremont News-Messenger / Fremont News-Messenger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
