Hundreds gather on West Side for inaugural North Lawndale Juneteenth Freedom Day Parade

CHICAGO — A large crowd united on the West Side on Thursday for the very first North Lawndale Juneteenth Freedom Day Parade.

While the warm temperatures have officially returned to Chicagoland, the heat did not seem to stop hundreds from taking to the streets of North Lawndale to celebrate and enjoy the start of the Juneteenth holiday.

“It’s from our roots, it’s what we do. This is how we get down, we party, we get together and we celebrate ourselves, our roots. So we are proud of that,” paradegoer Mechelle Moore Carter said.

Thursday marks the 160th anniversary of Juneteenth.

The holiday, celebrating African American’s freedom became nationally recognized in 2021.

Thursday morning’s parade kicked off in North Lawndale at 16th and Kostner. From there, dozens of community groups, churches and participants made their way to the 3400 block of Wsst Ogden where the Grace Manor Affordable Housing Complex is under construction.

Along with celebrating Juneteenth, Thursday’s parade also commemorates the passing of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the late Robert L. Lucas, Chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality who Rev. Marvin Hunter says led a march along Thursday’s parade route to demand equitable and affordable housing.

“Had he not did that, I would not have been able to build the first 100% affordable housing project in the history west side at 3401 West Ogden Avenue called Grace Manor 02 and so what we’re doing today is we’re, instead of marching, we’re having a parade because we are excited about the efforts that were put forth to give us the freedoms that we now have on freedom day,” Hunter said.

Once the parade made it to Grace Manor, Mayor Brandon Johnson joined the crowd for a cornerstone installation ceremony honoring civil rights leaders for their sacrifices.