'Soulful Freedom' Concerts Celebrates Juneteenth In Babylon

BABYLON, NY — Freedom will be celebrated with a "cultural experience" during the Town of Babylon's Soulful Freedom Juneteenth Celebration Concert on Friday, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Tanner Park in Copiague.

June 19 is the historical day that the enslaved were emancipated in 1865, two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Then on June 19, 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo declared that state employees could take the day as a holiday.

He also signed an executive order Tuesday stating that beginning in 2021, Juneteenth would be an official state holiday.

According to Juneteenth.com, Juneteenth is the "oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States."

In 1865, it was on June 19 that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, TX "with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free."The Emancipation Proclamation, the post added, had, before that date, not been recognized by residents of Texas due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce Lincoln's mandate.

Black Long Island and Empact Inc. partnered with the Town of Babylon to bring the concert to the people. Guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the show.