On Friday, over 400 residents and attendees gathered at Arrington Lagoon in Dawes Park, Evanston, to mark Juneteenth, the federal holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the United States. Recognized as a national holiday in 2021, June 19 commemorates the day when enslaved individuals in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom, more than two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
The celebration began at 10:30 a.m. with Opal’s Walk for Freedom, a march along the lakefront to honor civil rights advocate Opal Lee. Known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” Lee’s campaign played a significant role in gaining recognition for the holiday. Her granddaughter, Dione Sims, along with event organizer Kemone Hendricks, led participants of all ages.
Evanston Township High School’s cheer team and band performed during the march. Numerous local organizations and food vendors joined the festival to celebrate Black culture and resilience. During her speech, Sims asserted, “July fourth freed the land, but Juneteenth freed the people,” to a park full of visitors.
Participants in Evanston’s Opal’s Walk for Freedom symbolically covered 2.5 miles, representing the delay between the Emancipation Proclamation and the enforcement of freedom in Galveston. The walk started and ended at Arrington Lagoon in Dawes Park on June 19, 2026.
Sims highlighted Evanston’s pioneering role in reparations, proudly noting, “Juneteenth being celebrated in Evanston is not only historical, but it is momentous, because you guys are the grounds for where reparations got its start.” Evanston initiated the nation’s first municipal reparations program in 2021 to address the effects of discriminatory housing practices affecting Black residents.
She further conveyed a message from Opal Lee, “My grandmother, who turns 100 years old this year, thanks you for carrying her legacy. You know one thing she’ll say is, ‘I’m passing the baton to you, I’m not taking it with me. It’s up to you to make sure freedom does not die. It’s not just freedom for African Americans, it’s freedom for everybody’.”
Carolyn J. Ruff, founder of Black Lives Matter Women of Faith, emphasized her commitment to the cause, expressing her dedication by saying, “I’m here to honor Opal, the ancestor and the elder that started this holiday…we’re walking today to carry a history.” Throughout the day, she waved a Pan-African flag, a symbol of the struggle for freedom and justice.
Edie Segal, a local volunteer, expressed her eagerness to learn about the significance of Juneteenth by participating in the day’s events. She stated, “To be honest, I still don’t know enough about Opal Lee and Juneteenth, so I thought this was the best way to learn about it.”
Additional sponsors such as Evanston Present and Future, the City of Evanston, Mari Enterprise, and Unity Unlimited supported the festivities. The celebration featured performances from GreenTTea & the Tempos and NAJWA Dance Corps. Local vendors like Hecky’s BBQ and Candlelite Pizza served guests, while exhibits offered educational insights into history.
Family-oriented activities included face-painting, cornhole, and a “Colors of Juneteenth” coloring contest. Event organizer Kemone Hendricks based the contest on a book and history guide. Special events coordinator Amanda D’Agostino mentioned that this year the event’s move to Dawes Park was for logistical reasons, including cost considerations.
Scanning the vibrant crowd, D’Agostino smiled, “Today we’re celebrating the freedom of everybody, the freedom of all people.”
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