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District, Advocates to Celebrate Juneteenth

MEDIA ADVISORY: On the First National Juneteenth Holiday, San Diego Unified Celebrates Historic Action in Partnership With the People’s Association of Justice Advocates
Posted on 06/17/2021

MEDIA ADVISORY

On the First National Juneteenth Holiday, San Diego Unified Celebrates Historic Action in Partnership With the People’s Association of Justice Advocates

WHAT:
One year after the San Diego Unified Board of Education raised the Black Lives Matter flag at the Eugene Brucker Education Center and called on the State of California to recognize Juneteenth, President Joe Biden officially recognized June 19, the day that slavery ended, as a federal holiday. The Board of Education heard from many community members hoping for a second flag raising event, including Rev. Shane Harris, who donated the official Juneteenth flag being used in Friday’s ceremony.

Rev. Harris, the People’s Association of Justice Advocates, San Diego Unified students, district leaders, and allies will come together to raise the official Juneteenth flag for the first time at the Eugene Brucker Education Center.

WHEN:
Friday, June 18, 2021
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:
Eugene Brucker Education Center Flag Pole
4100 Normal St., San Diego CA 92103

VISUALS:
San Diego Unified community gathered at the flagpole, a brief speaking program, raising of the Juneteenth flag.

SPEAKERS:
Richard Barrera, Board of Education President, San Diego Unified
Shane Harris, President, The People’s Association of Justice Advocates
Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, Board of Education Vice President, San Diego Unified
Dr. Lamont Jackson, Interim Superintendent, San Diego Unified
Stacie Dent, Program Manager of Teaching & Learning, San Diego Unified
Carleton Overstreet, Chair, San Diego Hip Hop 5K
Sharon Apple, Teacher of the Year, San Diego Unified
Shaunessy Cardwell, Student, San Diego Unified
Maliyah Hicks, Student, San Diego Unified

INTERVIEW AVAILABILITY:
Makeda Dreaden, Executive Director, The World Beat Center
Stephan Abrams, National Chapter Coordinator, Team Enough
Abdur Rahim-Hameed, President, National Black Contractors Association
Janiece Hameed, National Black Contractors Association

BACKGROUND:
Under the resolution sponsored by former Board of Education President Dr. John Lee Evans and Trustee Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne in 2020, the district called on educators to, ‘“teach the importance of Juneteenth and current movements such as ‘Black Lives Matter’ that advance liberation efforts for the Black community with classroom lessons throughout the year…”’

San Diego Unified Juneteenth Resolution

Earlier this month, San Diego Unified started raising the Pride and Trans Pride flags daily in celebration of Pride Month. Recognizing the intersection of the Black Lives Matter and LGBTQIA+ movements, all three flags will be raised together.

The intersection of Pride and Black Lives Matter is deeply rooted in history. Juneteenth recognizes that on June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas and enforced the Emancipation Proclamation two and a half years after it was issued by President Abraham Lincoln, freeing the final African-American slaves. Pride Month started in recognition of the Stonewall Riots, which was a movement against police violence, including aggression targeting the LGBTQIA+ community, led by Black Trans women in New York City.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Samer Naji, 619-548-3388; [email protected]
Jason Verrett, [email protected]