PHOTOS AND VIDEO: Caravan takes over Stilwell and Barbara Jacket Park for Juneteenth Celebration on the Circle
Published 9:21 pm Friday, June 19, 2020
- Quarmarre Garlington, left, and Bonita Graham raise their fists signifying “Black Power”. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
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Port Arthur continued to commemorate Juneteenth on Friday evening (June 19) with a caravan that started at Stilwell Boulevard from Procter Street and made a short trek to Barbara Jacket Park inside Gilham Circle for Juneteenth Celebration on the Circle.
There, participants enjoyed free food, a bounce house, and music deejayed by DJ Spin of Beaumont radio station Magic 102.5, and representatives of the 2020 Census were on hand to help those that hadn’t responded to the count.
The African American Cultural Society teamed with the Port Arthur NAACP, KLV Ventures and the Port Arthur Complete Count Committee for the Celebration on the Circle.
Juneteenth is a Texas state holiday — but an unofficial national holiday — in honor of the day Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger informed the final American slaves in Galveston that they were free, 2½ years after the document making them free, the Emancipation Proclamation, was signed by President Abraham Lincoln.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52pjFDcGd0g
A decoration illustrates 400 years of African American history. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
Evangelist and recording artist Dr. Levy Q. Barnes Jr. takes in the festivities. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
Children enjoy some time inside a bounce house. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
Vehicles line up Stilwell Boulevard for the caravan to Barbara Jacket Park. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
The Juneteenth caravan wound down at Barbara Jacket Park, where food was served and a Census drive was held. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
Harold Joubert, left, and other motorcyclists take off at the start of the caravan. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
DJ Spin from Beaumont R&B station Magic 102.5 (KTCX-FM) deejays at Barbara Jacket Park. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
A Port Arthur fire truck joins the parade to Barbara Jacket Park to start the Juneteenth caravan from Stilwell Boulevard. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
From left, Port Arthur firefighter Travis Delacerda, Capt. James Jones and firefighter Mike Hawkins deliver sweet treats to kids in and around the bounce house. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
From left, Latonia Pete, Nicole Frelow and Brandace Johnson take in festivities. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
From left, Taylor Getwood, Gail Pellum and Sandra Gail Castille raise their fists signifying “Black Power.” (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
Harold Pellum, foreground, and fellow motorcyclists lead the caravan. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
Barbara Jacket Park was the destination for the Juneteenth caravan. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
Jai’lee Snodgrass, 15, is a Mardi Gras Ambassador from Port Arthur. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
Mardi Gras Ambassador Jai’lee Snodgrass, 15, rides around Barbara Jacket Park along with cousins William Charon and McKenzie Jones. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
Port Arthur District 3 Councilman Thomas Kinlaw III and his wife Valerie lead a group of Corvettes. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
A small crowd of onlookers watch the start of the caravan. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
A young man peers outside through the bounce house netting. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
Jesse Thomas and Beverly Chaney Bowden check out the Juneteenth festivities. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
A Toyota Tundra shows its patriotism going around GIlham Circle and Barbara Jacket Park. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
Bernard Woods drives his 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 6-19-20
About I.C. Murrell
I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
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