INDIANAPOLIS — June 19, 1865 marked the end of slavery in the United States with the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas. This year, the Juneteenth holiday included several events around Indianapolis.
The Black Firefighters and Black Police Officer Associations organized the fourth annual Juneteenth Peace March, a parade from Massachusetts Avenue to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park on the near east side.
"This is an opportunity to celebrate the significance of Juneteenth, but also plant a seed in these kids about the opportunity to serve their community in policing or fire," said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Deputy Chief Kendale Adams.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett joined the Peace March and later made his Juneteenth remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Recycle Force headquarters at Sherman Park.
"Juneteenth is America's genuine, true and appropriate Independence Day," said Hogsett.
"Juneteenth is not just about recognizing the suffering of people," said U.S. Rep. André Carson. "It's about acknowledging that we overcame, came out on the other side stronger. And we're holding on to that joy, because Juneteenth is about hope and the promise of progress."
Horizon House, a day shelter for people experiencing homelessness, served over 350 meals at its second annual Juneteenth cookout.
"Knowing that 53% of the people who come to our day shelter are African American or Black, we wanted to make sure that we're celebrating and recognizing that Black Americans have not been free for very long in the grand scheme of the American history," said Horizon House Board Chair Alicia McKoy.
The Peace March ended with a cookout a few blocks away at the Kennedy-King Memorial at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
Long after everyone had left in the heat of the afternoon, a couple stopped at the Landmark for Peace to take photos. The memorial is a statue of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. extending their arms toward one another.
"Just to be out here, that right there alone, that's powerful," said Berlin Zachary. "I had to come by and get a picture because we have come a long way now."
"This is just not for Black people to celebrate," said Eddie Zachary, Berlin’s husband. "This is for everybody to celebrate and commemorate. Everybody should recognize how important this day is - regardless of the culture, the race or whatever."
In Avon, the community marked Juneteenth with a celebration and fireworks show Wednesday evening.
"No one's free until we are all free, that's what Juneteenth is all about," said James Webb, executive director of Indy Juneteenth Inc.
This is the seventh year Indy Juneteenth has hosted this event. Visitors said it's important for the education to continue.
"We take this back to our jobs and the people we are around every day just to educate them. Even my little ones here, showing them what it's about. Freedom for everyone. This is something we can come here and celebrate," said Alex Harris.
Music, basketball, food and fellowship are all a part of the celebration, but Webb said the day is about more than that.
"Just because we got a holiday doesn't mean the work stops there," he said, adding Black people have come a long way since June 19, 1865, but still have more to go.
"There still so much work to do. There's so many laws and bills that need to be passed for total equality, but Juneteenth is a spark in the right direction," said Webb.
For the hundreds of people who came out to Sarkine Park, the hot weather was top of mind, but that didn't stop visitors from enjoying themselves. The heat didn't stop the fireworks either.
"Professional pyrotechnicians like Circle City Pyrotechnics who are our people, they come prepared with water and emergency situations, so never too hot for fireworks," Webb said.
The fireworks lit up the sky as a symbol of another successful Juneteenth. Now they look forward to the next celebration.
"It's very important to know where we came from and there's a possibility we can get along with each other," said Dashonda Patterson.