Next month, a local organization is partnering with several entities to host a weeklong celebration of Juneteenth, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans which became a federal holiday last year.

Juneteenth marks the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when the Union Army proclaimed freedom for enslaved people in Texas, the last state of the Confederacy with institutional slavery. It later became an official holiday in Texas in 1980, and in 2002 Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a state holiday. Washington for Justice is hosting a second annual local celebration, expanding to a week of activities beginning with a barbecue potluck on Sunday June 12th, and concluding with events Saturday, June 18th at Central Park including the Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company of West Liberty, and a free screening of the film “Remember the Titans.” This year’s events focus on the history of Iowa’s integrated ghost town Buxton, and will include a presentation and meet and greet with Rachelle Chase who has authored two books on the subject. Washington for Justice member Dan Henderson says upon contacting Chase she has already visited Washington and even attended one of his events at the library, “She really I think has fallen in love with Washington, Iowa. She likes what we are doing as an organization and wants to support it. She also sponsors the Uniting Through History: Hip History Contest for students, which we’ve encouraged students in Washington to get involved with.”

Washington for Justice is selling “Be Like Buxton” t-shirts at Dodici’s Shop in anticipation of Juneteenth Freedom Week, and you can hear more about Buxton during a two-part Halcyon House Washington Page with Henderson on air and at kciiradio.com.