Anacostia Holds Peaceful Juneteeth March and Rally

Washington, D.C

When Sharon Wish of Just SWAGG TV, a community organization in Anacostia, put signs in stores, shops, and on-street signs, she wasn't sure how many people would turn out for Juneteenth celebrations across the Anacostia bridge. "Look at this! I see all different types of people out there who want to celebrate and march with us to the Frederick Douglass House," says Wish. As the morning went on, the group got larger, sporting Black Lives Matter tee shirts, signs reading stop racism, and music played in the background as supporters got ready to march. Terrence Odom, who helped Sharon, organize the event was making sure people had drinks, snacks, and hand sanitizer on the table if needed. Terrence, young and full of energy, encourages the crowd to stand in solidity against racism in American. He also emphasizes how DC's Ward 8 isn't a forgotten community. He is referring to the predominantly African American community who usually seems to be put on the back burner by the city. But not on Juneteenth for mom, Asialon Brown, a DC resident who brought her two daughters "you must fight now for your rights and speak up and speak out." Teary-eyed, as we spoke, Asialon says her youngest daughter wanted to be a police officer but has changed her mind, "after seeing the video, and what's happening, she no longer wants to be a police officer." Patrick, who lives in the neighborhood, took the day off from work to support the event. "I wanted to show up and show solidarity in my area. While one of the littlest supporters, Kenyana Davis and her father, Kenney Davis, held signs while rollerskating, putting smiles on the faces of supporters watching before the march took off. The peaceful celebration and rally ended up at the Frederick Douglass house, and Nehemiah Sellers give a speech about Juneteenth. As one woman put it, the celebration was a wish come true for everyone who attended on Juneteenth.