Members of the Athens community are invited to an Honoring the Ancestors march and rally march and rally Friday.
For the second year, Athens-Clarke County organizations are celebrating the Day of Jubilee.”
On May 4, 1865, union soldiers arrived in Clarke County and freed an estimated 5,000 slaves. The feed slaves hosted an American flag up the flagpole in front of Athens Town Hall and danced around the flagpole of liberty. This Friday, the History Committee and community leaders will celebrate this occasion and honor the area’s African-American ancestors, especially those whose remains were discovered during the renovation of Baldwin Hall in 2015.
We wanted to honor our ancestors that never received proper burial or never received equal or fair treatment and we look as this as an opportunity to educate our youth as well,” that’s according to Mokah Jasmine Johnson, Co-founder and President of the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement.
Johnson says Juneteenth celebrations cover a number of dates.
“Our day of freedom for the slaves happened om May 4th here in Athens. They ran to City Hall, the City Hall where we have our meetings, so that’s why it’s a significant date. It’s important for everybody to understand Juneteenth, or the day that slaves were freed, happened at different times. It didn’t’ happen in June for everyone.”
The UGA Baldwin Hall Slaves Remains Vigil & Rally will begin with a gathering at the Arch at 5:00 p.m.
From there, marchers will make their way to City Hall for the celebration, including music, speakers and poetry. Those who do not wish to march are welcome to meet at City Hall.