WORCESTER — With its first official flag raising in Worcester, Juneteenth’s commemoration on City Hall was marked by the community’s commitment to dismantling systemic racism.

“While Juneteenth is the official end of slavery in the United States, this does not mean that Black people are free,” said Fred Taylor, president of the Worcester NAACP. “Blacks are fighting for our justice and equality every day.”

Juneteenth, which is also known as Freedom Day, commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the United States. The holiday was first celebrated in Texas on June 19, 1865, when federal troops led by Union Army General Gordon Granger took control of the state to ensure the freedom of enslaved people.

2021 is the first year that Juneteenth is recognized as a holiday or day of observance in Massachusetts. Worcester has commemorated the holiday since 1997.

A slew of participants joined the event, including city, state and federal leaders, local veterans and community members. Worcester City Councilor Khrystian King was in attendance, along with Councilors Sarai Rivera and Sean Rose, who jointly sponsored an order for City recognition of Juneteenth prior to the law declaration by the state of Massachusetts.

“There’s nothing more honorable than standing here with my fellow colleagues, fellow elected officials, clergymen and community members, thinking about the impact that this will have moving forward on the young ones,” said Councilor King. “This isn’t just a flag raising. This isn’t just another holiday. This is an opportunity of totality to be progressed and pushed forward.”

Mayor Joe Petty also spoke at the event, highlighting Worcester’s work in the fight for equality.

“Worcester’s always been a welcoming inclusive city, but we still have a long way to go,” Petty said. “We’re here as a team to make sure we go in the right direction.”

Congressman Jim McGovern, who represents the second congressional district of Massachusetts including Worcester, spoke of the work that is still needed, especially within voter equality, safety regulations and the health system.

“It’s appropriate at this time to recognize the progress, but let’s be clear that this day is not an anniversary of victory,” Rep. McGovern said. “This pandemic has shined a bright light on the disparities that exist in our community and our country. They disproportionately affect communities of color…We need to rededicate ourselves to a more equitable, more just and a more loving community.”

Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke of the event’s historic nature in Worcester and Massachusetts as a whole. She mentioned the work that must be done to combat mass incarceration, voter suppression and wealth gaps. She wants history to be told “as it is,” to allow for celebrations and affirm that Black Lives Matter.

Photo by Monica Sager.

“We’re working on doing this so that it is a holiday across the nation,” Sen. Warren said. “We need to make the celebration of the end of slavery part of our national heritage…Too often, the history of slavery, the history of racism has been pushed under the covers and has been ignored. It is time for us to stop.”

That work, she said, has no finish line.

“It is not enough for us to get together and congratulate one another on how far we’ve come,” Sen. Warren said. “It is for us to get together and see how far we need to go.”

Attendees were also able to watch dance, poetry, and musical performances throughout the afternoon. The event also coincided with the opening of The Village, a Black cultural center at 4 King Street.