Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Holds Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony

Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony

• 🗓️ The event marks the sixth consecutive year of raising the Juneteenth flag at the Wisconsin State Capitol.
• 📜 Juneteenth commemorates the true end of slavery in the United States, celebrated for 160 years.
• 🏛️ Wisconsin formally recognized Juneteenth in 2009, becoming the 32nd state to do so, after initial legislation was proposed in 1987.
• ✊ Governor Evers signed an executive order to raise the Juneteenth flag at the Capitol for the first time over a decade ago.

Commitment to Justice and Equity

• ✨ The ceremony celebrates progress while reinforcing a commitment to building a more just, equitable, and freer state and country.
• ⚠️ It's crucial to address the disproportionate impacts of centuries of injustice on various communities.
• 🤝 The goal is to create a future where every family has the tools and resources to thrive, regardless of background.
• 🇺🇸 In the face of division, the speaker emphasizes that diversity is a strength and that more unites us than divides us.

Spiritual Reflection and Ancestral Acknowledgment

• 🙏 A prayer acknowledges Juneteenth as a day of remembrance and joy, honoring the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans.
• 🕊️ The prayer calls for continued commitment to justice, equity, and equality, and for all people to be treated with dignity and respect.
• 💧 Annie Weatherbe Flowers describes a spiritual African ritual of 'livelation' as a way of acknowledging ancestors and the 'cloud of great witnesses'.
• ✝️ This ritual is framed within a Christian context, connecting to water baptism and the body and blood of Jesus Christ, as a form of spiritual sustenance and connection.
• 🌟 The 'livelation' also honors specific ancestors and community leaders, seeking hope and lifting each other up.

Juneteenth Anthem and Remembrance

• 🎶 The ceremony concludes with a performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," a powerful anthem of hope and liberation.
• 🚩 The flag is raised, symbolizing freedom and the ongoing commitment to never forget the significance of Juneteenth.