Rain doesn't stop Opal Lee’s Juneteenth 'Walk for Freedom'
Full: Opal Lee's Walk for Freedom
Watch the full, uninterrupted coverage of the annual Opal Lee’s Walk for Freedom. This historic event continues the legacy of the "Grandmother of Juneteenth," Dr. Opal Lee. While Dr. Lee isn't physically walking this year, thousands of participants across the country are stepping up in her honor to complete the traditional 2.5-mile route. This distance serves as a powerful reminder of the 2.5 years it took for the news of freedom to reach enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, after the Emancipation Proclamation.
FORT WORTH, Texas - Fort Worth’s annual Walk for Freedom kicked off on Friday morning despite storms on the radar.
However, 99-year-old Opal Lee, known as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth" was not able to attend this year's event.
Opal Lee’s Juneteenth ‘Walk for Freedom’
What we know:
Because of the intense rain and lightning, Lee's annual "Walk for Freedom" in Fort Worth was delayed by an hour.
Supporters still came together with umbrellas and rain jackets under the roof of the Will Rogers Memorial Center.
They walked 2.5-mile walk recognizing the 2.5 years it took for the news of freedom to reach enslaved people in Texas.
Lee was not able to participate in the walk as she'd hoped, but her supporters continued her mission.
What they're saying:
"I know that you guys wanted to see her today. The fact that you guys showed up for her vision is what truly matters," said Robin Sims, Lee's great-granddaughter. "I'm happy to be here to continue the work my grandmother has started. As you see in this rain, we have to press through just as she has with many hardships. Delayed but not denied."
Reporter Tisia Muzinga talked to a group of people before Friday's festivities got started. They shared a special message for FOX 4 viewers.
Happy Juneteenth!
A group gathered for Opal Lee's Walk for Freedom shares a message with FOX 4 viewers.
Grandmother of Juneteenth
Opal Lee will turn 100 soon
The woman known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth is planning to lead her annual walk tomorrow. 99-year-old Opal Lee missed last year's event because of health reasons but expects to be back this year.
Local perspective:
Lee was the driving force behind establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
In 2016, she walked from Texas to Washington D.C. to deliver a petition to then-President Barack Obama with signatures of more than a million people asking for Juneteenth to be recognized nationally.
President Joe Biden signed a bill into law in 2021. Lee was invited to the White House for the signing.
Since then, Lee and her supporters have established "Opal Lee’s Walk for Freedom." It started in Fort Worth but now includes walks in cities across the United States including Honolulu, Los Angeles, and outside Chicago.
Lee's granddaughter, Dione Simms, said the goal is to have Juneteenth freedom walks in all 50 states by 2030.
The backstory:
Juneteenth commemorates the day when the news finally reached Galveston in 1865 that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people in America were free. That day was June 19.
North Texas Juneteenth events
Local communities are hosting several events across the Dallas-Fort Worth area to celebrate the federal holiday:
- Liberation in Motion (Dallas): Hosted at the Bath House Cultural Center, this community gathering celebrates Juneteenth through a vibrant mix of live music, local food vendors, and fine art displays.
- UTA Juneteenth Festival (Arlington): The University of Texas at Arlington is hosting its annual campus celebration, bringing together keynote speakers, cultural performances, and historical presentations.
The Source: Information in this article comes from event organizers and previous FOX 4 coverage.