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Juneteenth: A vibrant celebration of freedom

The rhythm of African drums swelled on Saturday during the annual Juneteenth parade, commemorating the announcement of the abolition of slavery on June 19, 1865.

  • Juneteenth Parade participants wave from their float as they make their way through Center City in June 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Juneteenth Parade participants wave from their float as they make their way through Center City in June 2018. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • "I love to represent the positive," says Bryant Lee, with African Dance and Drum Ensemble Kulu Mele, as he prepares to participate in the annual Juneteenth Parade through Center City. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Leighdy Morris, Queen of the RBG Brigade, participates in the annual Juneteenth parade through Center City. She says Juneteenth, celebration of the end of slavery in the United States, should be a national holiday, like the Fourth of July. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Leighdy Morris, Queen of the RBG Brigade, participates in the annual Juneteenth parade through Center City. She says Juneteenth, celebration of the end of slavery in the United States, should be a national holiday, like the Fourth of July. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Kenneth Gamble and Sheriff Jewell Williams converse ahead of the annual Juneteenth parade through Center City. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Kenneth Gamble and Sheriff Jewell Williams converse ahead of the annual Juneteenth parade through Center City. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Juneteenth parade floats make their way through Center City on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Juneteenth parade floats make their way through Center City on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Marchers on stilts make their way through Center City during the annual Juneteenth parade on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Marchers on stilts make their way through Center City during the annual Juneteenth parade on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Congressman Dwight Evans representing Pennsylvania's 2nd District waves from the back of a horse-drawn carriage during the annual Juneteenth Parade on Market Street, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Congressman Dwight Evans representing Pennsylvania's 2nd District waves from the back of a horse-drawn carriage during the annual Juneteenth Parade on Market Street, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • A float travels through Center City during the annual Juneteenth parade on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    A float travels through Center City during the annual Juneteenth parade on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Marchers make their way through Center City during the annual Juneteenth parade on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Marchers make their way through Center City during the annual Juneteenth parade on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • A float travels through Center City during the annual Juneteenth parade. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    A float travels through Center City during the annual Juneteenth parade. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Dollar bills are placed on top of the head of a young dancer during the annual Juneteenth Parade, in Center City on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Dollar bills are placed on top of the head of a young dancer during the annual Juneteenth Parade, in Center City on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Juneteenth celebrators line the route for the annual Juneteenth parade at Independence Mall, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Juneteenth celebrators line the route for the annual Juneteenth parade at Independence Mall, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • A group promoting the Lest We forget Slavery Museum participates in the annual Juneteenth parade through Center City on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    A group promoting the Lest We forget Slavery Museum participates in the annual Juneteenth parade through Center City on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Peaches Jones (in blue dress), smiles atop the Kulu Mele float as it rolls past the viewing area at Independence Mall, during the annual Juneteenth Parade, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Peaches Jones (in blue dress), smiles atop the Kulu Mele float as it rolls past the viewing area at Independence Mall, during the annual Juneteenth Parade, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Tuskegee Airmen with the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces wave to the crowd lining Independence Mall, during the annual Juneteenth Parade, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Tuskegee Airmen with the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces wave to the crowd lining Independence Mall, during the annual Juneteenth Parade, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Marchers make their way through Center City during the annual Juneteenth parade on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Marchers make their way through Center City during the annual Juneteenth parade on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • A float of the Nation of Islam rolls past the viewing area on Independence Mall, during the annual Juneteenth Parade, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    A float of the Nation of Islam rolls past the viewing area on Independence Mall, during the annual Juneteenth Parade, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Dancers perform for a small crowd gathered at Independence Mall, during the Juneteenth Parade, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Dancers perform for a small crowd gathered at Independence Mall, during the Juneteenth Parade, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Leighdy Morris, Queen of the RBG brigade (left) raises a fist as she marches on Market Street during the annual Juneteenth Parade, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Leighdy Morris, Queen of the RBG brigade (left) raises a fist as she marches on Market Street during the annual Juneteenth Parade, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • Parade participants promote the Buy Black campaign during the Juneteenth Parade, in Center City, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    Parade participants promote the Buy Black campaign during the Juneteenth Parade, in Center City, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • A parade participant blows hand kisses from a float during the Juneteenth Parade, in Center City, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    A parade participant blows hand kisses from a float during the Juneteenth Parade, in Center City, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • A police officer mimics the waving hand gestures of young women on a float during the Juneteenth Parade, in Center City, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    A police officer mimics the waving hand gestures of young women on a float during the Juneteenth Parade, in Center City, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • A Carnaval dance group from Trinidad performs during the Juneteenth Parade, in Center City, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    A Carnaval dance group from Trinidad performs during the Juneteenth Parade, in Center City, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

  • A Carnaval dance group from Trinidad performs during the Juneteenth Parade, in Center City, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

    A Carnaval dance group from Trinidad performs during the Juneteenth Parade, in Center City, on Saturday. (Bastiaan Slabbers for WHYY)

The rhythm of African drums swelled and bounced off  Center City high rises as floats rounded City Hall on Saturday during the annual Juneteenth parade, commemorating the announcement of the abolition of slavery on June 19, 1865.

For the third year, floats rolled from City Hall to Penn’s Landing in a vibrant celebration of African culture and traditions. Participant Leighdy Morris, Queen of the RBG Brigade, said the celebration should be a national holiday similar to the Fourth of July.

On the second float of the parade a band performed the Redemption Song by Bob Marley. A few light drops of rain did not seem to hinder the participants as they made their way over the parade route.

Among the participants in the parade were Kenneth Gamble of music producing duo Gamble & Huff, Congressman Dwight Evans, Sheriff Jewell Williams, students, Police Explorer cadets, dance and performance ensembles, and many others.

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