Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
14 Ways To Celebrate Juneteenth In LA
Activists raise their fists at the All Black Lives Matter Solidarity March on June 14, 2020 in Hollywood. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
()
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
Christine Ziemba contributed to this story.
With the many, many protests still happening throughout Los Angeles and the growing support for defunding the police, Juneteenth feels more significant this year than usual -- and we don't take the significance of the end of slavery in the United States lightly. Several companies have even made Juneteenth a paid holiday.
Whether you want to celebrate the day with other people, out in the world or at home, you've got options.
Support for LAist comes from
()
Leimert Park Rising
The 11th annual Juneteenth Festival doubles as a celebration and a rally for Black independence. The festival's special honorees are educator Ben Caldwell, artist Lauren Halsey, food advocate Olympia Auset and musician Dom Kennedy. Guests can enjoy entertainment on three IRL stages while shopping from Black businesses and enterprises. All people and all ages are welcome. Masks are required.
Friday, June 19, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
In this screengrab, Alicia Keys performs during Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020 on May 16, 2020. (Getty Images/Getty Images for EIF & XQ)
()
Juneteenth Verzuz Battle
The latest installment of the Instagram music battle series pits musicians Alicia Keys and John Legend against each other for a special Juneteenth edition. The online series was started at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic by hip-hop producers Swizz Beatz (who also happens to be married to Keys) and Timbaland.
Friday, June 19, 5 p.m. PST
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancers perform a scene from "Ode" during a dress rehearsal December 10, 2019 in New York. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
()
Support for LAist comes from
SummerStage Juneteenth Celebration
SummerStage usually hosts free IRL concerts in NYC's Central Park but now that they're virtual, we can all watch. Tune into SummerStage's YouTube channel at 4 p.m. PT to hear a panel discussion led by Hope Boykin of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, followed by a tribute performance of Hanging Tree, featuring Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet Dance Theatre, vocalist Marcelle Davies-Lashley and poet Carl Hancock Rux. If you want more, there's a full day of performances that you can watch on SummerStage's Instagram channel starting at 9 a.m.
Friday, June 19, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. PT
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
()
The Cookout
Log into Zoom for a celebration of Black excellence showcasing Black artists, poets and musicians. The event will raise money for @numaade cafe, a Black-owned business in DTLA that was destroyed during the recent protests. For every $50 raised, the event organizers will donate a week's worth of groceries to a family in need (while supplies last).
Friday, June 19, 5p.m. - 8 p.m.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
A strawberry cobbler. (Jennifer Pallian/Unsplash)
()
Pies For Justice
This is an online charity bake sale hosted by Gather For Good. Log on to the website at 9 a.m. to purchase sweet and savory pies from a selection of pastry chefs, bakers, restaurant owners and farmers. The site allows you to filter by location because you'll need to pick up your purchase. All proceeds go to Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and The Gathering for Justice.
Friday, June 19, 9 a.m.
COST: TBD Ddepending on what pie you buy; MORE INFO
Support for LAist comes from
May 2020: A skateboarder does his thing at a Venice Beach skate park that had been covered in sand to prevent people from using it after stay-at-home restrictions went into effect to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (David McNew/Getty Images)
()
Juneteenth Venice Skate-Bomb
This skate protest against racial violence will start at the 3rd Street Promenade and end at the Venice Beach Skate Park. Bring you own wheels -- bikes, scooters and skateboards welcome. Masks are encouraged.
Friday, June 19, 3 p.m.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
All Flavor No Grease's Inaugural Juneteenth Celebration
Local taco truck All Flavor No Grease hosts a peaceful march down 108th Street in South L.A. Attendees are encourage to celebrate Black businesses. Food trucks and local vendors including Blue Kitching, Happy Ice and HJB Cream will provide refreshments. Speakers, including councilmember Herb Wesson who helped introduce a motion to cut $150 million from the LAPD's budget, will talk about freedom, unity and justice.
Friday, June 19, 10a.m.- 6 p.m.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
A protesters holds up a placard during a march past L.A. City Hall on June 3, 2020 to protest the death of George Floyd. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
()
Support for LAist comes from
Million People March
Activist group Fight For Power is organizing a march through downtown Los Angeles to "honor the power of the black dollar and fight for black justice and equity." The location is secret. Once you sign up, you'll receive an email with the plan.
Friday, June 19, 12 p.m.
COST: Free; MORE INFO
Cache Jones and her daughter attend a June 16 protest urging officials to defund L.A. School Police. Cache says her daughter, a kindergartener, has already faced unjust treatment at her school to such an extent that she moved her to a different district. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
()
Defend Black Lives Event
This demonstration will start at Pasadena's City Hall. It will be a rally to defund police, invest in Black communities, and get President Trump to resign.
Friday, June 19, 5 p.m.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
#juneteenth #2wiceashard #walkgodla #LosAngeles #LosAngelesProtest pic.twitter.com/2Vd9Pe6ade
— Your Friend’s Friend (@walkgoodetienne) June 15, 2020
Run For Freedom
The two-mile protest run, starting at L.A. High Memorial Park (4625 West Olympic Blvd.), will be followed by a picnic. Organizers urge participants to wear black and bring food for the post-run festivites.
Friday, June 19, 4 p.m.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
()
LACCD March For Our Lives
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College invites other community college students, faculty and staff to join them for a march from Flower and Washington to Grand Park. Face masks are required.
Friday, June 19, 10 a.m.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
A fruit and vegetable stand. (ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP via Getty Images)
()
Juneteenth Celebration With Free Food Distribution
Food will be provided for community members on a first-come, first-served basis. Oraganizers ask that everyone wear masks. Programming provided by SCOPE L.A.Friday, June 19, 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
P.J. Yates (left) and his sister Daijha Yates sing during the Juneteenth, Black Independence Day celebration at Nichol Park in Richmond, California on June 19, 2004. (David Paul Morris/Getty Images)
()
Juneteenth Jubilee March For Equality
Marchers will start at Pershing Square and end at City Hall. Features speaker Jody Armour, a USC law professor who wrote N*gga Theory: Race, Language, Unequal Justice.
Friday, June 19, 4 p.m.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Naomi Williams (left) and D'Emanuel Grosse Sr. (right) enjoy sweet potato pie at the Juneteenth, Black Independence Day celebration at Nichol Park in Richmond, California on June 19, 2004. (David Paul Morris/Getty Images)
()
El Segundo For Black Lives Juneteenth Rememberance Ceremony
The newly formed El Segundo For Black Lives will host this memorial for Black Americans who have died at the hands of police. The ceremony will include names, spoken word tributes and community stories. Meet at El Segundo Library Park.
Friday, June 19, 3-5 p.m.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
READ OUR RACE IN LA SERIES
- Lessons Learned While Being Black: 'I'll Never Be Above Scrutiny'
- The Hidden Cost Of Inherited Blackness
- Jogging While Black: 'And Still They Crossed The Street'
- Black And Tired In This American Newsroom
- Conflicted: A Black Journalist's Reckoning With Her Race, Family And Police Brutality
- How To Participate In Our Series
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist