Mayor Bass and LA County Supervisor Mitchell enjoy South LA’s Juneteenth celebration
Community spirit radiated from the streets of South Los Angeles on Sunday, June 18, as Angelenos of all ages came together for Holly J. Mitchell’s 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration and Resource Fair.
“We remain committed to protecting and ensuring the right of all our residents to live in our communities surrounded with the necessary resources and opportunities to thrive,” said L.A. County Supervisor Mitchell. “I’m so happy to be here today.”
The Juneteenth event was held along Century Boulevard and featured live music, food trucks, art and family activities. Resources such as mental health counseling, immigration services and tenant protection support were also provided.
The first Holly J. Mitchell Juneteenth Celebration and Resource Fair was in 2021, the year that President Joe Biden signed a law making Juneteenth a federal holiday. It commemorates the effective end of slavery on June 19, 1865, more than two years after the end of the Civil War.
“What makes our country great is our entire history,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a news conference. “And that is why Juneteenth is so important.”
Bass added, “At this moment in this country, although we don’t suffer from it in Los Angeles, nearby states are actually making an effort to not tell the history of our country.”
Sunday’s festivities spanned far past the main Juneteenth event area, with more than six miles of streets open for bicyclists and pedestrians. Organized by CicLAvia, the open streets allowed people to enjoy their Sunday outdoors and eat at local restaurants, including Casa Honduras and Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen.
“We love the CicLAvia events and we think they’re great for the community,” participant Jennifer Lowe said. “You can get out and be in Los Angeles, in a way that isn’t looking out the windows of your car.”
This celebration was one of many, with communities and organizations coming together across L.A. and the country to honor Juneteenth. The festivities will continue on Monday, from Altadena to Long Beach.
“I love the fact that we’re inviting the community out so we can bond together and see each other,” said Marshel Adams, a first-time attendee to the Juneteenth celebration and fair.