Juneteenth rally in the North Bronx highlights voting rights and push for equality
The rally began six years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to heal an isolated community and has since grown into a cornerstone of reflection and joy.
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Juneteenth celebrations, also known as Freedom Day, took place across New York City, marking the federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
Although President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, did not learn they were free until June 19, 1865, more than two years later.
Community leaders gathered at White Plains Road and East 229th Street in the North Bronx for the sixth annual Music Over Violence Juneteenth rally, an event hosted by Council member Kevin Riley. The rally began six years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to heal an isolated community and has since grown into a cornerstone of reflection and joy.
“We wanted to make sure we were able to unionize the community together in fellowship,” Riley said.
New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie joined elected officials from the City Council to Congress, emphasizing both celebration and accountability.
“Juneteenth should always be a celebration, but it should also be a recognition that we still have so much more work to do in making sure not just Black people, but all people of color, are treated equally,” Heastie said.
While the day centers on Black freedom, speakers also underscored the political weight of the moment, urging residents to recognize the power of voting.
“It’s a bullet if we don’t go to the ballot,” state Sen. Jamaal Bailey said.
The rally also honored grassroots leadership, presenting Williamsbridge NAACP president Laura Rhodan with a Juneteenth Legacy Award.
“It’s really a surprise. I never do anything for awards, it’s just something I’ve been doing all my life,” Rhodan said.
