State Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, speaks at the 2022 Juneteenth celebration in Kent. This year’s event is June 17 at the Kent YMCA. Behind Orwall from left to right are Gwen Allen-Carston, Michael Powers and Charles Carston. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Black Action Commission

State Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, speaks at the 2022 Juneteenth celebration in Kent. This year’s event is June 17 at the Kent YMCA. Behind Orwall from left to right are Gwen Allen-Carston, Michael Powers and Charles Carston. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Black Action Commission

Juneteenth celebration in Kent set for Saturday, June 17

Event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Kent YMCA on East Hill

The Kent Black Action Commission will present its annual Juneteenth Freedom Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 17 at the Kent YMCA, 10828 SE 240th St.

Juneteenth is a nationally recognized holiday (June 19) that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It commemorates the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce and enforce the end of slavery. The announcement came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.

“It means celebrating what we have come through. …because of the hard work of the people who came before us and stood steadfast no matter what, we are here,” said Gwen Allen-Carston, executive director of the Kent Black Action Commission, at the June 6 Kent City Council meeting.

At that meeting, Mayor Dana Ralph proclaimed Monday, June 19 as Juneteenth Day in Kent.

“We acknowledge Black freedom and achievements within this community,” Ralph said as part of the proclamation. “We would specifically like to recognize and offer thanks to the Kent Black Action Commission for their founding and continued work in the observance of Juneteenth and are grateful for their contributions to our city; and we appreciate the Black experience and celebrate the inclusion of all races, ethnicities, and nationalities; and we commit to working together to achieve equity for all.”

Allen-Carston said normally the event is at Morrill Meadows Park, but the park is under renovation so the group will move next door to the YMCA.

“There will be soul food, greens and baked beans and all kinds of stuff,” Allen-Carston said.

Michael Powers, a Seattle jazz guitarist, will perform from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

“We are going to make sure that it’s a day to remember and everyone is invited,” Allen-Carston said.




Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Kent Reporter Photo
Pedestrian killed in Kent hit-and-run on Pacific Highway South | Update

Kent man, 41, identified by medical examiner; police arrest Seattle man, 32, in May 22 incident

Adam Smith. Courtesy Photo
U.S. Rep. Smith rips ICE raid at Kent company

Says ‘Trump administration is terrorizing our community through a series of ICE arrests’

t
ICE arrests 17 in raid at Kent beverage business

Tuesday, May 20 incident at Eagle Beverage; removed in handcuffs and ankle restraints to bus

t
Two Kent-Meridian High School students win photography awards | Photos

Emily Fong won for flag football photo; John Sanchez won for football feature profile photo

Kent Reporter photo
Kent Police arrest man wanted by Seattle Police for child rape

Issaquah man, 39, taken into custody without incident at Kent Valley business

COURTESY FILE PHOTO, Comcast/Xfinity
Comcast reports May 19 outage in Kent from vandalized cables

Service expected to be restored later in the day; second outage in a month

City of Kent Corrections Facility, 1230 Central Ave. S. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
Medical examiner rules Kent female inmate jail death as ‘natural’

45-year-old woman died April 22 in City of Kent Corrections Facility

Kent Reporter photo
Kent Police Blotter: April 28 to May 11

Incidents include wanted woman, caught on camera, 99 Ranch Market robbery

Howard Hanson Dam along the Green River. COURTESY FILE PHOTO, U.S. Army Corps
Murray blasts Trump administration for cutting Hanson Dam funds

Congress had awarded $500 million for fish passage, water storage project; funds headed to red states

The Great Wall Shopping Mall, 18230 E. Valley Highway in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Great Wall Shopping Mall
Asian residents target of robberies in Kent, other cities

Kent Police issue crime alert for people to be ‘informed and vigilant’

T
Please subscribe and help support local journalism in Kent

The Kent Reporter is offering readers a new premium service that will help strengthen our mission to provide quality local journalism in the community.

City of Kent Corrections Facility, 1230 Central Ave. S. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
Kent Police investigating city jail inmate death at local hospital

Medics transported Kent man, 36, to hospital after medical emergency in jail