A year after the June 19 announcement, freepeople who wanted to celebrate the first anniversary faced expanding segregation laws. They were not permitted to use public places or parks. They pooled $800 to purchase 10 acres of land they called Emancipation Park. Until the 1950s, Emancipation Park was the only Houston-area public park and swimming pool open to African Americans. Read more at Mental Floss.

Make plans to celebrate Juneteenth Freedom Day at LLCC on June 19, 2024, with the second annual Freedom Walk at 8:30 a.m. Each day before the celebration, the LLCC Juneteenth Committee will share a fact about this historic day.

Order your Juneteenth t-shirts from Kim Wilson, recruitment specialist, by end of day, Thursday, June 13. Tshirts are $20 each. For more information or questions about the t-shirt order, email or call Kim Wilson at 217-786-2810.