Victims of COVID-19 to be honored during ‘Day of Healing Candlelight Vigil’
ALBANY, Ga. – Around the country people are gathering to celebrate Juneteenth. The holiday commemorates when African American slaves in Texas were emancipated in 1865, following the Civil War.
In celebration of the holiday a local non-profit, SOWEGA Rising, is hosting a number of events for what they’re calling “Juneteenth Freedom Weekend.”
To kick start the event-filled weekend, the organization is calling on all residents of Southwest Georgia to come together for a candlelight vigil.
Source: SOWEGA Rising Facebook page
During the vigil, lanterns will be released into the sky to honor community members who have been lost due to COVID-19 and also victims of police brutality.
Dedrick Thomas, a member on the Board of Directors for SOWEGA Rising, says tonight’s event is meant to unify the entire community.
Dedrick Thomas
“We want people to know that this event is not just for black Albanians, it’s not just for black Southwest Georgians, it’s for all of Southwest Georgia to come together and all of Southwest Georgia to truly embrace the concept that black lives in fact matter,” says Thomas.
Ward VI Commissioner Demetrius Young
“We think this will be the beginning of the healing that we want to see for our community,” says City of Albany ward VI Commissioner, Demetrius Young.
Young is an organizer of the weekend’s events and he hopes that the Juneteenth celebrations attract people from all walks of life.
“I hope to see everybody, I hope to see young people, I hope to see old people, I hope to see black people, I hope to see white people, I hope to see latino people, gay people, straight people… anybody that believes in freedom, equality and justice.”
Thomas says that these events are made to spark conversations between these different groups and communities in Southwest Georgia.
“We want a dialogue to take place. A lot of the negative stereotypes I hear coming from both races can be dispelled by a simple conversation. A whole friendship can spud from that.”
Tonight’s vigil begins at 7 p.m. at Mary Young Cummings Memorial Park at 423 Holloway Ave in Albany. Masks are strongly encouraged and will be provided to those without one. Lawn chairs are also recommend to comfortably enjoy the nights event.
Source: SOWEGA Rising Facebook page
Saturday’s events start off at 10 A.M. at the Charles Sherrod Civil Rights park. There will be a peaceful protest, march and rally.
