JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Northside Coalition, a local civil rights group, and others lined the Main Street Bridge on Wednesday night to light it red, black and green for Juneteenth.
Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, found out they were free after the Civil War and two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
The organization came together to light the Main Street Bridge because the Acosta Bridge’s lights will only be red, white and blue through Labor Day. That’s because the Florida Department of Transportation joined Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Freedom Summer” initiative.
Northside Coalition President Kelly Frazier, daughter of the late Ben Frazier, a longtime Jacksonville activist, said the group wanted to commemorate the important holiday, despite the state’s restrictions.
“We are lighting the bridge for Juneteenth in red, black, and green to honor all Black Americans who literally fought for their freedom from slavery; who suffered systematic discrimination and violence; who organized, marched, bled, and died for civil rights; and who persevere even when obstacles are thrown in front of us today that disrespect us and attempt to disempower us,” Frazier said. “We are here to say that we shall continue to overcome!”
She also said having everyone show up and come together for this event “means everything.”
“It’s a celebration of people. A celebration of our culture. Celebration of freedom. It’s an expression,” Frazier said.
Nubian Roberts, with Black Power Rising, talked about the message she wants the effort to send to the people of Jacksonville.
“I think the people of Jacksonville are going to be excited to see us really do this action, because who doesn’t want to be included? Everyone in this city wants to be included; we are a city that is all about that,” Roberts said. “Our liberation is everything. We want to be able to show that all the time.”