UWS Juneteenth Memorial To Honor Black Lives Lost To Police

UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN — A memorial on the Upper West Side will celebrate the Juneteenth holiday by remembering the black lives who have been lost to police and racist violence, according to the West Side Rag.

The "Say Their Names" demonstration, planned by the group Veterans for Peace, will read the names and ring a bell for each person who has lost their life to police violence or "racist vigilantes" on the corner of 96th Street and Broadway, according to an invitation shared by the Rag.

It is one of several events being held across the city in honor of Juneteenth, the 155-year-old holiday that celebrates the emancipation of African Americans from slavery in the United States.

"Juneteenth today celebrates African-American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures," according to Juneteenth.com in an explanation of the holiday.

The one-hour memorial will start at 5 p.m. and include a banner that reads "Take Your Knee Off His Neck," a reference to George Floyd, who died with a Minneapolis cop's knee on his neck and has in part been the spark of mass nationwide protests the last few weeks.

Organizers said that those who attend can also bring signs, but should limit them to “Defund the Police,” “Black Lives Matter,” or "the name of a person murdered by law enforcement," according to the invitation.

They also told gatherers to wear masks and practice social distancing.

To see a round-up of Juneteenth events in New York City click here. Read more about the holiday's history here.