Montclair Honors Black Freedom With Local Flag Raising Ceremony [PHOTOS]

Montclair residents found unity at a Juneteenth flag raising event.

By Eric Kiefer, Patch Staff

Jul 13, 2026 2:16 pm EDT

Montclair Mayor Renee Baskerville speaks to the crowd at the township's Juneteenth flag raising event on June 19, 2026. (Photo: Sunah Choudhry)

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair residents recently came together to honor Black freedom, remember the generations who fought for it – and continue their fight for equality.

Montclair held a Juneteenth flag raising ceremony last month at the corner of Church Street and Bloomfield Avenue. The event drew an enthusiastic crowd, including Mayor Renee Baskerville, 4th Ward Councilor Aminah Tohler, U.S. Reps. LaMonica McIver and Analilia Mejia, and People’s Organization for Progress founder Larry Hamm.

Sunah Choudhry, a Montclair State University graduate who works as a multimedia professional and journalist, documented the event in a series of photos, which can be seen in the gallery above.

A Juneteenth flag was raised in Montclair, NJ on June 19, 2026 at the corner of Bloomfield Avenue and Church Street. (Photo: Sunah Choudhry)

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People's Organization for Progress founder Larry Hamm speaks about the Emancipation Proclamation of 1875. (Photo: Sunah Choudhry)

Attendees listen to a speech at the township's Juneteenth flag raising event on June 19, 2026. (Photo: Sunah Choudhry)

Susan Saintweather of the People's Organization for Progress cheers for a speaker at Montclair's Juneteenth flag raising event on June 19, 2026. (Photo: Sunah Choudhry)

U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, Montclair 4th Ward Councilor Aminah Toler, and U.S. Rep. Analilia Mejia stand side-by-side wearing African Ankara skirts provided by Syline Pateat. (Photo: Sunah Choudhry)

Students from Beyond the Boogie Dance Company perform at Montclair's Juneteenth flag raising event on June 19, 2026. (Photo: Sunah Choudhry)

U.S. Rep. Analilia Mejia speaks at the township's Juneteenth flag raising event on June 19, 2026. (Photo: Sunah Choudhry)

Two Montclair residents find camaradarie and friendship at the town's Juneteenth flag raising event on June 19, 2026. (Photo: Sunah Choudhry)