Black History

Thousands Celebrate D.C. Emancipation Day

THE AFRO — April 16, 1862 was the official date that slavery was abolished in Washington, D.C. As a result of President Abraham Lincoln’s Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862, over 3,100 slaves were freed in D.C.

Published

6 years ago

April 21, 2019

Oakland Post

By George Kevin Jordan

It may have been overcast during most of Saturday, but that didn’t seem to damper the spirits of the thousands of people who gathered at the Freedom Plaza to celebrate the 157th anniversary of Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C. The event was filled with music, food and fireworks, as residents throughout the DMV came to celebrate the historic day.

The streets were closed off along Pennsylvania Avenue as people took in the music, swaying as D.C. natives such as Kenny Lattimore and Mya, serenaded them or jumping into a groove when Go-go music blasted through the speakers.

April 16, 1862 was the official date that slavery was abolished in Washington, D.C. As a result of President Abraham Lincoln’s Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862, over 3,100 slaves were freed in D.C.

“That’s not the end and that’s not also the beginning of our true history, but it is something to be acknowledged because there’s so many ancestors that fought a fight, that we don’t quite understand because we haven’t fought it like they did,” D.C.’s hometown singer Mya told the AFRO.

According to the Emancipation Day site, the first Emancipation Parade was held April 19, 1866, four years after the D.C. Emancipation Act. Many celebrated along Pennsylvania Avenue then as well.

This year’s parade, which started in the afternoon along Pennsylvania Avenue dropped off participants at the Freedom Plaza, the epicenter of most of the events. Local, regional and national artists such as Faith Evans and Doug E. Fresh were on hand as part of the day long concert series.

The parade, concert and fireworks was the culmination of several Emancipation Day Events including the displaying of the Emancipation Act on Monday, and a lunch and learn of the history of the day on Friday.

“I think it’s an important event,” said Paula Moore a Maryland resident, who has been attending the celebration for years. “So we bring our kids so they understand the importance of Emancipation Day in D.C.”

“They’re still young and they’re trying to embrace what it means. Not only are we telling them about history but it’s also equally important to know the artists who brought us along the way. It’s not only about looking back it’s about making improvements as we move forward.”

Moore pointed out the importance of celebrating events for and about Black people saying, “So much of what we’ve (Black people) done and meant to D.C. is being erased and so its so important to continue to show up and support events like this. Without events like this we’re completely erased.”

Omeshia Herring, a D.C. resident came to connect with the District’s rich culture. “I am not from D.C., but I moved here and I think it’s important to immerse yourself into the culture and this is the celebration of the end of slavery in D.C. so why wouldn’t I be here? I’m happy to see all the beautiful Black people.”

Herring, who has been living in D.C. for seven years and resides in the Northeast, said that events like the Emancipation Day Celebration are, “extremely important and rare.”

“I think it’s important for our fellow counterparts to come out and enjoy the rich history of Washington,” Herring told the AFRO.

This year’s attendance numbers could not be confirmed at press time, however the Office of Cable, Television Film, Music and Entertainment did confirm that attendance for the concert last year was about 4,000 people. For more information on remaining events and a snapshot of the history of the day go to https://emancipation.dc.gov/.

This article originally appeared The Afro.

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Remembering George Floyd

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Minnesota State Attorney General Keith Ellison acknowledges that the Floyd case five years ago involved a situation in which due process was denied, and five years later, the president is currently dismissing “due process. “The Minnesota Atty General also says, “Trump is trying to attack constitutional rule, attacking congressional authority and judicial decision-making.” George Floyd was an African American man killed by police who knocked on his neck and on his back, preventing him from breathing.

Published

5 days ago

June 2, 2025

Oakland Post

Mural showing the portrait of George Floyd in Mauerpark in Berlin. To the left of the portrait the lettering "I can't Breathe" was added, on the right side the three hashtags #GeorgeFloyd, #Icantbreathe and #Sayhisname. The mural was completed by Eme Street Art (facebook name) / Eme Free Thinker (signature) on 29 May 2020. (Wikimedia Commons)

By April Ryan
BlackPressUSA Newswire

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The death forced then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden to focus on deadly police force and accountability. His efforts while president to pass the George Floyd Justice in policing act failed. The death of George Floyd also put a spotlight on the Black community, forcing then-candidate Biden to choose a Black woman running mate. Kamala Harris ultimately became vice president of the United States alongside Joe Biden. Minnesota State Attorney General Keith Ellison prosecuted the cases against the officers involved in the death of Floyd. He remembers,” Trump was in office when George Floyd was killed, and I would blame Trump for creating a negative environment for police-community relations. Remember, it was him who said when the looting starts, the shooting starts, it was him who got rid of all the consent decrees that were in place by the Obama administration.”

In 2025, Police-involved civilian deaths are up by “about 100 to about 11 hundred,” according to Ellison. Ellison acknowledges that the Floyd case five years ago involved a situation in which due process was denied, and five years later, the president is currently dismissing “due process. “The Minnesota Atty General also says, “Trump is trying to attack constitutional rule, attacking congressional authority and judicial decision-making.” George Floyd was an African-American man killed by police who knocked on his neck and on his back, preventing him from breathing. During those minutes on the ground, Floyd cried out for his late mother several times. Police subdued Floyd for an alleged counterfeit $20 bill.