Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle marked Juneteenth by honoring those who endured slavery and fought for freedom, stressing that emancipation was only the first step toward true equality.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation finally reached enslaved people in Texas, marking a pivotal moment in the long struggle for African American freedom and equality.
“Today, we honor those who endured or fought to end slavery,” Preckwinkle wrote on Facebook. “160 years later, freedom was only the first step. In Cook County, we continue to uphold Juneteenth’s values: equity, justice, and collective power. We remain committed to building systems that are fairer, more inclusive, and more responsive to the people we serve.”
In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed Preckwinkle’s message during a flag-raising ceremony, calling Juneteenth a call to action for real freedom in housing, healthcare, education, and opportunity.
“As we celebrate Juneteenth, we recommit ourselves to repairing past harms through investment and opportunity,” Johnson said.
On Thursday, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch hosted the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Memorial Park District in Hillside.
The free event featured performances by the Jesse White Tumblers and Muntu Dance Theatre, free haircuts and scheduled appearances by officials including Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, U.S. Rep Robin Kelly, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Treasurer Mike Frerichs, U.S., Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart,
In a public statement, Welch emphasized Juneteenth’s ongoing importance amid efforts to erase Black history.
“As extremists in Washington and across our nation work to erase Black History, we must not only push back in the statehouse, we must also continue to come together with love, joy and understanding, which is exactly what this annual celebration is all about,” he said.