Three Juneteenth flags are being raised in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Harlem on June 1 in commemoration of the holiday highlighting the end of slavery in America.
The flags will fly at Bronx Borough Hall, Brooklyn Borough Hall and the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State office building in Harlem. Ceremonies for the flag raisings will take place simultaneously at the locations from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Community groups Creating Unity in the Community, Brownsville Heritage House, Inc. and Project Africa Restoration are organizing the flag raisings.
Juneteenth, also knowns as Freedom Day and Emancipations Day, is June 19 and celebrated the official end of slavery in the United States in 1865. The Juneteenth flag was designed in 1997 by Ben Haith, founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation.
In October 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation designating Juneteenth as an official public holiday in New York State.