The Omicron Tau Sigma Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity of Troy University will host its Second Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Murphree Park in Troy on Saturday, June 14. 

The Juneteenth Celebration will begin at 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Murphree Park and will feature free admission for all. 

“The Omicron Tau Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma is proud to host this for our second year,” event Chairperson Willie B. Williams Jr. said. “Last year was a great success. It’s an event for people of all ages, and all people in the community are invited. It will be a family friendly event and our goal – and our aim – is to bring the community together in the spirit of freedom and celebrating culture and unity. We want to celebrate unity amongst all people.”

The celebration will be held immediately following the Second Annual Juneteenth Parade, which will conclude at Murphree Park. 

Juneteenth is commemorated on June 19, in celebration of the day when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the Civil War on June 19, 1865. While the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in America was signed in 1983, it took more than two years for it to be completely enacted across the country.   

Juneteenth has been recognized as a federal holiday since 2021 but has been celebrated since 1866. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey also signed a bill earlier this year commemorating Juneteenth as an official Alabama state holiday, as well. In previous years, Ivey had signed executive orders acknowledging the occasion as a state holiday but the bill passed back in May makes it a permanent state holiday.     

“Our motto is ‘Culture for service in service for humanity.’ That’s what we try to be guided by,” Williams said. “We are committed to uplifting and serving our community the best way we can.” 

Williams said Phi Beta Sigma looks to honor the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis, who was also a Troy native and a fraternity brother of Phi Beta Sigma. 

“We always try to uphold his principles and try to do things that will honor him and serve him in a way that he would be pleased with if he was alive today,” Williams said. 

Last year’s event came from a random conversation leading up to Juneteenth and is now becoming an annual tradition in Troy.

“Last year, a few months before we held the event, we were just sitting around talking and I mentioned that I was going to drive to Montgomery to enjoy some Juneteenth activities,” Williams recalled. “One of our brothers said we should put one on ourselves. We took the chance to put it on last year and it was amazing. We didn’t expect so many people to show up to our first event. We had between 300 and 400 people that came out last year.” 

The Juneteenth Celebration will feature local food trucks, guest speakers, live musical and theatrical performances, cultural vendors and community leaders. Williams also said that there is still space for vendors that would like to set up at the event. For more information, contact Williams at (334) 282-9574 or E-Mail alsigma.zeta@gmail.com.