Framingham To Raise Juneteenth Flag This Week

News release from City of Framingham.

FRAMINGHAM, MA — To honor the significance of Juneteenth, the City of Framingham will raise the Juneteenth Flag on City Hall Plaza on Tuesday, June 18 at 11 a.m. The flag will be flown through Monday, June 24.

This is the second consecutive year the flag has been flown at the Memorial Building.

The Juneteenth ceremony will include speeches by Framingham public school students and a performance by Eric Reynolds, City of Framingham Human Resources Generalist.

Juneteenth was declared a national holiday in 2021 to commemorate the ending of chattel slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19, that Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas, with the news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This notification came two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

"Juneteenth offers us a chance to reflect on our history, recognize the conclusion of one of our nation's darkest periods, and strive for a brighter future," said Mayor Charlie Sisitsky. “Embracing Juneteenth means acknowledging the legacy of slavery, honoring the sacrifices of those who came before us, and celebrating the freedoms we often take for granted.”

"The Juneteenth flag features 3 symbols — a five-point star, a bursting star, and an arc — which have specific meanings, according to its creator Ben Haith.

• The five-point star represents the state of Texas, where, in 1865, Union soldiers told the last remaining enslaved African Americans that they were free - two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
• The bursting star is a nova — an explosion in space that produces what looks to be a new star – a new beginning for the African American people who were freed.
• The arc that divides the red and blue colors of the flag represents a new horizon, new opportunities, and promise for Black Americans.
• The red, white, and blue colors represent the colors of the American flag and declare that all American slaves and their descendants are American.

Jesse Edwards, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the City of Framingham, added, “Juneteenth reminds us that the fight for freedom, justice and equality is constant. Let us come together, people from all backgrounds, to listen, learn, and reflect.”

We invite you, the vibrant community of Framingham, to the Juneteenthfest 2024 hosted by Community Vibes Framingham.

This event will take place on Saturday, June 22, 2024, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Farm Pond, 100 Dudley Street, Framingham. It's a free event filled with food, music, games, and raffles.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=374446102312023&set=pcb.1457601258210723