300 attend Juneteenth event to celebrate the Black community

YOUNGSTOWN — About 300 people attended Saturday's Juneteenth celebration at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre to celebrate Black history and community.

The event was the first time government officials and the community were brought together in the city to celebrate Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

Nikki Posterli, Mayor Jamael Tito Brown's chief of staff, started the event with City Health Commissioner Erin Bishop, Director of Minority Health Leigh Greene and Councilman Julius Oliver, 1st Ward.

Brown did not attend because he is self-isolating after being in contact with a COVID-19-positive person.

Posterli said she represents both as a resident and city official that understands how racial disparities are a health crisis in Youngstown.

"Knowing our worth as Black people, we can command change and we can be the change we want to see," Posterli said.

Ministers from Youngstown churches shared prayers and scriptures throughout the celebration. The Rev. Kenneth Simon, pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church, led the Black national anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

A candlelight vigil commemorated all of those who have lost their lives to police brutality, including George Floyd [Minneapolis] and Tamir Rice [Cleveland]. The names of 12 victims were read and a candle was lit for each as well as a candle for all of those who lost their lives to COVID-19.

The celebration also included performances from the Roundup Band and Word in Motion. Attendees line-danced to songs such as "Wobble" and "Cha Cha Slide" and enjoyed free food and giveaways from vendors and sponsors.

Felicia Durr, a Youngstown resident, has attended Juneteenth celebrations in Youngstown in the past. She said this year's celebration has done more to bring together the community.

"It's for everybody in the community," Durr said.

Black businesses from Youngstown had stands set up around the amphitheater.

As a part of the celebration, city council members signed the resolution to declare racism as a public health crisis. City Council President DeMaine Kitchen said the resolution is just a starting point to begin the process of evaluating policies and procedures of the city.

"It gives us a public record of accountability to work with the administration in order to bring about the necessary reforms and policy changes," he said.

Kitchen said he was impressed with the turnout of the event even though there are still concerns with COVID-19.

"I think it speaks volumes to how relevant this conversation is and how important it is to a lot of folks," Kitchen said.

This story was originally published June 21, 2020 at 7:39 AM with the headline "300 attend Juneteenth event to celebrate the Black community."