TOLEDO, Ohio — June 19 was a day filled with celebrations all around the Glass City. The day, also known as Juneteenth, recognizes an important milestone in the history of Black Americans.
One such celebration was headed by Toledo's Black Lives Matter activist group that also took the opportunity to honor the lives lost to police brutality.
The Community Solidarity Response Network of Toledo began on Friday with a rally and a march to the Frederick Douglass Community Center on Indiana Ave. in Toledo.
Ruth Leonard, the administrative lead with CSRN, says now is the time to make history.
"It's a day of celebration for the Black community, to celebrate when the final set of slaves in Galveston, Texas finally got word, a year and a half after the Emancipation Proclamation was written, that slavery was over," said Leonard.
Leonard says they rejoice for their freedom but are also utilizing the day to break free from police brutality.
This comes after the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Rayshard Brooks.
"Isn't fair that they have impunity, that they have qualified immunity that exist in a way that is still a slave catcher versus a slave. And we can no longer continue to allow that to happen," said Leonard.
Leonard says they are fighting to defund the police and hold them accountable for the injustices they've had on Black men.
CSRN is also teaming up with 3 Heart Learning Institute and Child Care to teach younger protesters how to have their voice heard.
"Kinda give them some construct and have that conversation at the beginning of the march. We talked about being peaceful. We can still get our word across. We don't have to be disrespectful or tear up anything," said Alexicia Sims, a co-owner of 3 Heart LICC.
It's a sign of peace between communities coming together all around Toledo.
Beyond Juneteenth, the groups are asking you to reflect back to the civil rights marches and join them in fighting the same fight.
"If it takes a White person being an ally and showing up to an event and asking what can I do next, then that's what has to happen and that's how we're getting this, this bigger turn out if you will. From our allies on Juneteenth," said Leonard.
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