The City of Savannah and the community participated in the third annual commemorative Juneteenth Walk to the River led by Mayor Van R. Johnson, II, on Friday, June 19, 2026. The two-mile community walk, which observed the federal Juneteenth holiday, also known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, began at 8:30 am, at Wells Park. The route proceeded north along Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. It ended at the Savannah River’s MLK Jr. Park.

Commemorating the End of Chattel Slavery

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation to end chattel slavery in the United States. On that day, General Gordan Granger declared, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, slaves are free.” The announcement reached enslaved persons in Galveston two-and-a-half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

“Juneteenth reminds us that delayed freedom is still worth fighting for. As we gathered for our 3rd Annual Juneteenth Walk to the River, we honored the resilience of those who came before us, celebrated the progress we’ve made, and re-commit ourselves to building a Savannah where freedom, opportunity, and justice belong to all,” said Mayor Van. R. Johnson, II. “We walk together because our history is shared, our future is connected, and all means all.”

Mayor Johnson signed a proclamation in 2020 recognizing Juneteenth Day in Savannah. In 2021, former President Joe Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, recognizing June 19 as the federal holiday, Juneteenth. It became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was adopted in 1983.

Transportation for the walk was provided for individuals with mobility challenges and for those returning to their vehicles. Hydration stations were available along the route. Savannah Police Department’s traffic division conducted a rolling closure of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., between W. 38th St. and River St.

Original reporting: The Savannah Tribune — read the source article.