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Celebrate Juneteenth with these local events

Friday is Juneteenth – learn the history behind the holiday
Posted at 8:17 AM, Jun 19, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-19 22:18:13-04

Hundreds celebrated Juneteenth across the Tampa Bay area, despite the spike in coronavirus cases.

Juneteenth 2020 marks the 155th anniversary of the end of slavery in America. For local activists, this holiday couldn't have come at a better time. Millions across the globe are protesting racial inequality and have been doing so for the past month since George Floyd's death. Recent protests started after several unarmed black men and women were allegedly killed by police this year.

Here's a list of Juneteenth events that happened Friday:

Ybor City march starting at Centennial Park.

Mayor Jane Castor and the Tampa Police Chief joined the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity for a protest in Downtown Tampa.

Across the Howard Frankland Bridge in St. Pete, the community held a big Juneteenth celebration at Williams Park.

Carter G Woodson African American history museum unveiled a "Black Lives Matter" street mural in a virtual ceremony earlier in the day.