Selma groups prepare to host Juneteenth celebrations

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

Selma is one of the many communities in our viewing area that preparing to celebrate Juneteenth this week.

Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee held a press conference this morning outlining its celebration plans — and the meaning behind the holiday.

About 4 million enslaved people were freed — at the end of the Civil War — on April 9th 1865.

“The problem is people in Galveston, Texas did not get the memo,” said Jubilee Co-Founder Faya Rose Toure.

“They did not know they were free until June 19, 1865. The Civil War had ended and they still did not know they were free. None of us are free until all of us are free.”

Foot Soldiers Park is hosting it’s 5th Annual “Still We Rise” Juneteenth Celebration in Selma — on Friday from 12 to 4:30 PM — at 1705 Selma Avenue.