GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – The 6th annual Juneteenth Celebration at Green Bay’s Joanne’s Park had a theme of freedom to flourishing: the next chapter. At its core, organizer and We All Rise African American resource center executive director and therapist Robin Scott says it’s about thriving.
“There’s a lot of things happening in the world right now, and for the Black community we really want to focus on what is the next step, what do we want to look forward to,” Scott said.
A lot happening in mid-June and particularly on the 14th indeed, as a parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army in Washington D.C., President Donald Trump’s 79th anniversary and scores of “No Kings” protests taking place across the country.
Despite all that is going on, Scott does not believe that the other events are detracting from Juneteenth events.
“Absolutely not,” she said. “The American people, there’s so many of us, and there’s so many beautiful ways we get our messages out there.”
Vendors, Black-owned businesses, organizations and other groups lined the walkways at Joanne’s Park. Among them, spreading his message alongside We All Rise leadership, is retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Rick Crosson, also a former Green Bay Area Public Schools board member seeking reelection.
Crosson might wear many hats, but his feelings toward the 250th anniversary U.S. Army parade are quite clear.
“You want to celebrate a soldier, give him the day off. Let him be with his family, let him celebrate that,” he said. “But ok, this is a milestone, I hope it’s just kept in the proper perspective and doesn’t go off into some other tangent.”
Green Bay and Wisconsin’s role in the ending of slavery rolls back deep into history. Green Bay is Wisconsin’s oldest city, and was the last stop on the Underground Railroad before escaped slaves boarded ships to freedom, bound for Canada.
On multiple occasions, freedom seekers were hidden in the old Union Congregational Church in Green Bay. Additionally, Stockbridge Native Americans helped families of escaped slaves by concealing and protecting them as they made their way to the city on the bay, as Lake Michigan was a necessary avenue to freedom.
“It’s powerful to celebrate the event right here in Green Bay,” Scott said. “There are places where I am in the city of Green Bay where I am where I literally feel my ancestors beneath my feet. And so I’m able to be guided and empowered everyday as a leader.”
