Terrence Floyd Unveils Statue of His Brother, George Floyd, on Juneteenth
Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19, was officially recognized as a federal holiday in the United States this year. On this day, in 1865, news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveston, Texas, marking the end of slavery in the final Confederate state.
In celebration of the holiday, communities across the US came together to commemorate this moment in history. One of the most poignant moments took place in Brooklyn, New York, where Terrence Floyd, brother of George Floyd, unveiled a statue of his late sibling during a Juneteenth rally. The statue, created by artist Chris Carnabuci, is a 6ft sculpture that will be displayed for a few weeks before being moved to Union Square in Manhattan.
In Racine, Wisconsin, a group of approximately 70 people marched to honor the legacy of Joshua Glover, an escaped slave who found refuge in the city on his way to Canada through the Underground Railroad.
In Atlanta, a parade started near Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. led historic demonstrations. Participants cheered on marching bands, dancers, and vehicles with Black Lives Matter signs. While some felt the significance of the day was bittersweet, with some calling it “pacification” for the Black community, others like Andrea Johnson expressed hope, saying: “This particular Juneteenth is special because last year we were in the George Floyd protests, and this year we received some resolution.”
