Mayor announces Juneteenth celebration

Community organizations stress value of formal event

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A roomful of Johns Creek residents cheered and applauded news of a Juneteenth special event on the horizon following action at a Feb. 28 City Council work session.

Juneteenth harkens back to the federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of the country’s enslaved African Americans.

The event will be June 17 at Newtown Park.

Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry announced the news from the dais at the successive City Council meeting.

“Whatever happened in between then — I don’t know,” Skinner said. “But we’re excited.”

The decision comes after the recommendation from the Johns Creek Arts, Culture and Entertainment (ACE) Committee, which discussed the idea at its Feb. 2 meeting. Several ideas were tossed around, such as a gospel choir, a DJ with secular music, a barbecue cookoff as well as a ceremony honoring Black families buried at Macedonia Cemetery and other historical cemeteries in the city, like Little-Terry.

Four students in Northview High School’s Black History Club share their experiences with the club and support for recognizing Black history at the Feb. 28 Johns Creek City Council meeting. Other public comments included support for the city’s new Juneteenth event scheduled June 17 at Newtown Park, which the City Council approved at its work session earlier in the evening.

At the work session, Councilwoman Stacy Skinner pointed out that the City Council was in full support of Juneteenth last year.

While Juneteenth is a federal holiday, ACE Committee members also recommended it be recognized on the city calendar. Johns Creek currently shows a blank slate for June 19, whereas nearby cities like Dunwoody and Sandy Springs have adopted the holiday.

Councilwoman Erin Elwood

See JUNETEENTH, Page 7