Several cities around Westchester are holding events to honor Juneteenth.

New Rochelle is celebrating for 12 hours today, starting at Wards Acres Community Garden and migrating to City Hall and many more locations.

Juneteenth marks both the emancipation of slaves after the Civil War and a day to celebrate Black culture.

“On June 19, 1865, the final African Americans who were enslaved received notice that they were actually free,” says. Yadira Ramos-Herbert, of the New Rochelle City Council.

Ramos-Herbert says today’s events will include African drumming, food and drinks all in theme for the day.

While Juneteenth has technically been on the calendar since 1866, the holiday has come more to light since the pandemic.

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“Within the last year, there's been more of a racial awakening and reckoning, certainly sparked by George Floyd and through COVID, so I think it's just important that we acknowledge that freedom was not granted to everyone, that there's still a struggle that African Americans are still looking for true equality,” says Ramos-Herbert.

There will also be celebrations in Mount Vernon, White Plains, and Yonkers today.

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