Rockland to Hold Juneteenth Celebration Saturday

Celebrate African American freedom with your Rockland County neighbors this Saturday, June 15 at the Juneteenth Independence Celebration. 

The festivities will be held at Memorial Park at Piermont Avenue in Nyack starting at 8 a.m. 

Juneteenth commemorates Union General Gorgon Granger’s declaration that all slaves are free on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.   

Here is a rundown of the day’s events:

• 8 a.m. - A 1.6 mile Fun Run, named in honor of former Nyack NAACP President Laurence H. Holland, will start at the corner of Depew and Piermont Avenues (takes place rain or shine)

• 9 a.m. - Registration for free self-guided walking tours of places of African American historic significance in Nyack, organized by local author and scholar Dr. Lori Martin, will take place at tables near the basketball courts. Participants will use Smart Phones to access digital information about the sites. (takes place rain or shine)

• 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Enjoy vendors, food and activities for all

• 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. – The Herve Alexander Quartet will perform 

• 12:45 p.m. to 1:30pm - The Nyack High School Band under the direction of Michael Smith will perform

• 12 p.m. to 4:30 pm – A keynote address will be given by Pastor Roger Williamson of Berea Seventh-Day Adventist Church (in the event of rain this will take place at Rockland Community College at the Ellipse, in the technology building)

• 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – A tribute for longtime Nyack Public School education Anne Nash will includes food, activities and live music

This event is sponsored by:

• The Tappan Zee Lodge #79 Free and Accepted Masons (Prince Hall) 
• African American Historical Society of Rockland County
• Pan-Hellenic Council
• Ministerial Alliance
• Women in the NAACP (WIN)
• Committee of the Nyack Branch of the NAACP
• Historical Society of the Nyacks

For more information contact Dr. Willie Bryant, Chairman and Coordinator of the Tappan Zee Lodge No.79 Free and Accepted Masons (Prince Hall) at 845-362-8630 or by email at goldwillie@aol.com.  

If you would like to participate as a vendor call Timothy Scott at 845-494-8961, or by email, cheftds@aol.com. 

For more information on the Laurence H. Holland Fun Run and Walking Tour contact Dr. Lori Martin, (845-675-7651) or by email at drlorimartin@gmail.com.