Want to attend Juneteenth events in Rock Hill and Fort Mill, SC? Here’s how you can
Many local events are planned Friday for Juneteenth, and esteemed guests, including the mayor of Rock Hill and Clinton College’s president, are slated to be involved.
This year’s annual holiday, which commemorates the emancipation of the last remaining enslaved African Americans in the Confederacy, comes at the crest of a social movement that has been sweeping across the country in light of blatant instances of police brutality, racism and racial profiling. The focus largely has been on the police killing of George Floyd, an African American man who died when a police officer pressed his knee onto Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.
Rock Hill, Fort Mill, York, Chester, Lancaster and other places around the Tri-County have been active in the crusade for racial justice leading up to Juneteenth.
Want to attend local Juneteenth events on Friday? Here’s what you need to know.
Moms Against Racism march to Confederate Park
Moms Against Racism, a group focused on creating social change through education, will lead a march from Fountain Park to Confederate Park in Rock Hill and host an anti-picnic.
At Confederate Park, the group will host several speakers, including Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys, Clinton College President Lester McCorn and Rock Hill poet laureate Angelo Geter.
Nikita Marsh, an event organizer, told The Herald the gathering aligns with the educational purpose of Moms Against Racism.
“Our focus is really about educating people about racism and what it is to be anti-racist, or anti racism,” Marsh said. “And so with that construct in mind, just thinking about who we are as moms, what we do as parents and how we integrate our children into communities — looking at the parks in our area became a major focal point for us. …
“Whether it’s in Rock Hill or Fort Mill, we want to bring our children to a place that encourages inclusivity for them.”
Marsh said that hosting the event on Juneteenth was purposeful.
“I think that the timing of this, specifically with our focus being educational, gives us an opportunity to educate around what Juneteenth is and the significance of that date for African Americans,” Marsh said. “But it also really calls to the forefront the need to be more equitable in our community and what that looks like.”
Attendees will begin gathering at Fountain Park at 5 p.m. and then will walk up East Main Street and East White Street to Confederate Park. From there, people are encouraged to bring blankets, baskets and dinner to hear the featured speakers.
Free parking will be available at Elizabeth Lane Parking Deck, according to an event flier. If it rains, the event date will be moved to July 3, Marsh said.
“The best place to start is in your community,” Marsh said. “If we can do that one park at a time, then so be it. And I think that is what pushes larger change on the whole.”
Other events in Rock Hill, Fort Mill
Several other events, in-person and online, will take place on Friday.
Fort Mill: A voter registration drive is planned 5-8 p.m. at 600 Steele Street in Fort Mill, according to the event website. There will be speakers, free food and raffles for prizes.
Fort Mill: “Juneteenth: Celebration of Freedom, Restoration and Black Culture” will feature local black artists, musicians, poets and businesses. People should meet at 291 Dairy Barn Lane in Fort Mill on Friday, according to the event website. The event lasts from 3-9 p.m.
Rock Hill: “Juneteenth Freedom Fest” will occur from 6-9 p.m. at the Historic Crawford School at 4109 Saluda Road in Rock Hill. An event flier says it’s a free community grill and that people should bring tents, lawn chairs and coolers. For more information, contact southsidesaturdaysrh@gmail.com.
Online events: The city of Rock Hill’s official event has been moved online due to the COVID-19 threat. The national NAACP will also stream a virtual event at 4 p.m. on its YouTube page: “Juneteenth Black Family Reunion.”
Is there an event we missed? Contact azietlow@heraldonline.com.
This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 11:30 AM.
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