Wyandotte County celebrated Juneteenth on Saturday with a parade and festival. The Juneteenth in the Dotte parade began on North 27th Street, symbolically near the Quindaro Ruins Overlook, passing under the stern but approving gaze of the statue of abolitionist John Brown.
More entries joined the parade at Quindaro Elementary, and the crowd was thickest as the queue wound through the intersection at Quindaro Boulevard. The route ended uphill as weary parade-walkers reached the finish line at Cleveland Avenue and dispersed onto the lawn at Klamm Park.
Kansas City, Kan. Mayor Tyrone Garner was the parade’s grand marshal and talked afterward about the significance of Juneteenth in the historic area.
“ It means so much for those individuals that came from Missouri through the Underground Railroad to Quindaro to the free state of Kansas,” said the mayor, “and we’re standing on their shoulders today.”
“I know all those individuals that sacrificed so much to bring their families to just have a chance at freedom and opportunity. This event today mean would mean so much to them.”
Garner also called out the rapid expansion of the holiday celebration, adopted as a federal holiday in 2021.
“ It doesn’t stop here,” said the mayor. “KU has a Juneteenth celebration. Bonner Spring has a Juneteenth celebration. John’s Java on 5th Street has a Juneteenth celebration. It’s culminating this weekend with this event here at Klamm Park and then tomorrow, the BlacKCK MarQet at 18th and Quindaro is going to round out the Juneteenth celebration right here throughout the week in Wyandotte County.”
District Attorney Mark Dupree was also at the celebration and talked about the history of Juneteenth and how it still resonates today.
“ When Texas finally caught hold because of General Granger that ‘Hey, y’all, emancipation got everybody free two years ago,’ it brought a celebratory mindset to everyone,” said Dupree of the Union general who brought the news of emancipation to Galveston, Tex., in June 1865.
“Today we continue to live that and hopefully do something with that freedom that will continue to press the entire country forward in the right direction, to be inclusive, to enjoy the diversity of all people that we have in our country.”
With Unified Government primary elections coming up in August, a large group of candidates for mayor and commissioner rode in the parade and passed out campaign flyers.
There was also a big contingent of Jeeps and Corvettes from area car clubs. The 4Eva Envy, KC Fusion, and Xclusive drill teams performed to beats despite the growing heat. The KCK police department and the Board of Public Utilities both had a showing of equipment in the parade.
