A Juneteenth event was held in Jersey City’s Liberty State Park on Monday – one of many held around the state.

The holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

Organizer Shannon Mitchell got emotional as he reflected on the past year of putting the festival together.

“The journey to be able to put this together and actually see everything work well, come to fruition, it is actually incredible,” Mitchell says.

Mitchell co-founded the organization All About Us, which put on the event.

“In my household, my mother, my grandmother, they both spoke about — at that time it wasn’t considered a holiday. They spoke about the day. The history of the actual slaves at that time they didn’t know that they were free. So, when you actually think of Juneteenth is, it’s actually pretty sad,” Mitchell says.

Annette Hightower was one of several Black business owners at the festival. She showed off some of her items.

“This is my fourth-generation grandmother, Judith Barber. And this is her book. I’m in the book - me and my sisters - my entire family is in the book. So, I’m doing this today for her,” Hightower says. “In colonial slavery, we were not allowed to read or write, and I actually wrote a book, so this is in homage to my grandmother.”

The event goes until 8 p.m.