Celebrate Juneteenth At Newport City Hall

NEWPORT, RI — Celebrate Juneteenth at Newport City Hall on Friday evening. The socially distant event will feature guest speakers, an official city proclamation and grab-and-go meals.

The celebration is sponsored by Sankofa Community Connection, a Newport organization dedicated to "increas[ing] pride of place within the African American Community of Newport County." All are welcome at the event, which will be held at Newport City hall at 5 p.m.

For the first time, the Juneteenth flag will be flown above City Hall, along with the reading of a proclamation from the city, guest speakers and more, wrapping up with grab-and-go vegan soul food dinners at Community Baptist Church.

The event will be socially distanced due to the coronavirus pandemic. All attendees are asked to wear a face covering, and masks will be available to those who need them.

Sankofa is a word from the Akan people of Ghana that means "go back and get it," or "it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind," according to Berea College. It is often represented by a heart or a bird with its head turned backwards.