Racial justice alliance town hall meeting to recall historic events June 8

The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice will explore two June events in America's Black history – one horrific, the other a celebration – at a town hall meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 8, via Zoom.

Renowned Delaware historian Sylvester "Syl" Woolford will describe one of the worst episodes of racial violence in U.S. history, when an armed white mob attacked a prosperous Black community in Tulsa, Okla., 100 years ago. On May 31 and June 1, 1921, as many as 300 people were killed, and what was known as Black Wall Street was burned to the ground. Woolford’s presentation will take the audience through the tragic events surrounding the massacre and its aftermath.

In celebration of Juneteenth, Jane Hovington, community activist and founding board member of the Richard Allen Coalition, will speak about the 155-year-old holiday commemorating the emancipation of slaves in the U.S. It was on June 19th, 1865, two and a half years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, that Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger proclaimed freedom from slavery in Texas.

Following a brief historical video, Hovington will share plans for celebrating Juneteenth in Sussex County this year.

To register for the town hall meeting, go to blackwallstreet1921.eventbrite.com or for more information, go to sdarj.org.