MONTICELLO — On June 17, President Joe Biden made Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States annually on June 19, an official federal holiday.

The Sullivan County Chapter of the NAACP hosted a Juneteenth celebration in Monticello at the Ted Stroebele Center.

While the NAACP has been celebrating Juneteenth for years, this year holds special significance because it is the first time it is being observed as a federal holiday.

Community leaders, students, residents, law enforcement, medical personnel, and families gathered on the lawn of the Stroebele Center. They celebrated as a community through spoken word, music, and testimonies of what this holiday means.

Sullivan County Public Health was on hand to give the vaccine for the COVID-19 virus.

The holiday celebrates the day when news of emancipation reached the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, which was the last state of the Confederacy with institutional slavery.

Since then, it has been observed in different parts of the country, and it is sometimes called Juneteenth National Independence Day or Emancipation Day.

In Monticello, the Juneteenth celebration started with remarks from the NAACP, students from the Liberty, Fallsburg, and Monticello School Districts. Other community leaders spoke on the day’s importance and how much more still needs to be done nationally and locally.

President of the Sullivan County Chapter of the NAACP, Sandra Johnson-Fields, said more needs to be done.
“[We] still [have] poor healthcare, still poor housing, still poor education, still poor policing practices towards African Americans,” said Johnson-Fields.

“Okay, we got a holiday, and so... I’m not impressed. We’ve always celebrated Juneteenth. But now that it’s federal, more people will know about it. That’s not for us; it’s for others,” she added.

She was happy with this year’s turnout in Monticello, saying that there were more people, and she thinks it was due to the recent news of a new federal holiday designation.

Students from the Liberty, Monticello and Fallsburg Districts were on hand to celebrate with spoken word and their experiences learning about the holiday.

The students made a banner, led by Spanish teacher Michelle Quick and Assistant Principal Tiffany Barrow, to celebrate Juneteenth.

“Our goal was to create a banner that would educate our peers about Juneteenth and to celebrate it as an important part of our history. It is our tribute to the black slaves that endured unimaginable things. Our work together as students demonstrates unity, which is part of our message,” said Liberty High School student Melana Quick-Lepke.

The banner showed two hands breaking free from the chain that bound them. And within the hands, important African-Americans’ names were written to recognize their contribution to the country and society.
Rashad and Lyndie Kirk, husband and wife team “The Kirk’s,” who were selling Juneteeth inspired clothing at the celebration, also said more has to be done for African-Americans.

Lyndie said, “It’s a long time coming.”

While Rashad said, “It’s about time, but we have a long way to go.”

Community activist and host of the podcast Tea Time with Bunky, Kennetha Corley, said it is amazing that the holiday is now federally recognized but further needs to be done locally for the holiday to be more known.
“It’s long overdue. I don’t celebrate the Fourth of July anymore. That’s not my holiday. Juneteenth... it’s freedom day for all African-Americans,” said Corley.

Sullivan County Sheriff Michael Schiff, along with Undersheriff Eric Chaboty and other law enforcement personnel, were on hand to help celebrate the holiday with the community.

“We want to be supportive and be here,” said Sheriff Schiff.

The Sheriff said he has been to other Juneteenth events, but this one holds a special significance.
He added, “They’ve been fighting real hard for a long time, and we wanted to be here with them.”