Sen. Reed, community leaders celebrate Juneteenth in Newport

NEWPORT, R.I. (WLNE) — Newport celebrated Juneteenth on Sunday with Sen. Jack Reed and other community leaders.

Reed was joined by the Rhode Island Slave History Medallions organization to mark the federal holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.

The organization is a public awareness program that marks historic sites in the state that are connected to slavery.

The ceremony took place at Washington Square Park and included a colonial encampment at Friends Meeting House with Continental Army and Militia Regiments from across the region.

“Juneteenth represents the point at which we began to recognize the fact that we had to work everyday to ensure the promise that freedom, liberty, and justice is a promise for all Americans, not just some Americans,” Reed said. “We cannot achieve this freedom and equality in the future if we neglect the past, if we forget the past.”

Newport’s Juneteenth celebrations will continue on Monday.