06/19/2026
📜 "The people are informed that... all slaves are free."
On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, announcing the enforcement of emancipation more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
These words marked a historic turning point:
"This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property, between former masters and slaves..."
General Order No. 3 became the foundation of what we now celebrate as Juneteenth — a day of remembrance, liberation, resilience, and hope.
As we prepare for the NAACP Berkshire County Branch Juneteenth Celebration on June 21, we invite our community to reflect on the meaning of freedom and the ongoing pursuit of equality. Through music, culture, community, and a multigenerational reading of Frederick Douglass's powerful speech "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?", we honor those who fought for freedom and those who continue the work today.
📍 Durant Park, Pittsfield
📅 Sunday, June 21, 2026
🕛 Beginning at 12:00 PM
🎉 Free and Open to All
Join us as we celebrate freedom, educate future generations, and strengthen our community.