Lowell Sun: “This Day Is Everything for Us” 7th Annual Gathering Celebrates Freedom and Community

June 24, 2025, The Lowell Sun

LOWELL — The sizzle of barbecue, the rhythm of music, and the laughter of children filled Warren Street on Saturday as community members gathered at UTEC for the seventh annual Juneteenth Block Party — a celebration of freedom, family, and Black heritage in the heart of Lowell.

Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19, commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Over time, it has become a national symbol of Black liberation and resilience, officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.

“We do this every year in honor of Juneteenth and the history behind it, and celebrate what it means to us and our community,” Rob Mitchell, president of the Afro-American Community Collaborative, said about the annual block party. “This day is everything for us.”