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T he P ortland O bserver • J une 22, 1994
FREEDOM DAT CELEBRATED
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Message On Freedom Day
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T h a n k s g o to M rs . B r e n d a
D a v is a n d M s. E m ily n H a r r is ,
a ll o f th e c o m m u n ity c a r e v o l­
u n te e rs a n d C la ra P e o p le s
w ith B e th e l A .M .E . C h u r c h
J u n e te e n th h a s c o m e a g a in ,
th e F r e e d o m D a y C e le b r a tio n .
W e a s k y o u n g p e o p le to g e t
y o u r e d u c a tio n s o y o u c a n b e
s e le c t in y o u r c h o o s in g in life .
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f o r h o ld in g a b ig c e le b r a tio n .
E ig h t h u n d r e d p e o p le p a r tic i­
p a te d , a n d t h e r e ’s ta lk o f n e x t
y e a r g o in g f o r r id e s a n d a p a ­
r a d e in o u r c o m m u n ity w ith
p r id e .
T h a n k s w e n t o u t to th o s e
w h o h a v e g o n e o n b e f o r e us fo r
th e s a k e o f f re e d o m fo r th e b la c k
A m e ric a n .
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In Portland The Tradition of
‘Juneteenth” Unites African Americans
A rea residents marked the 121-
year anniversary o f freedom from sla­
very June 19 during the annual obser­
vance o f “Juneteenth Day.’’The holi­
day m arks the time o f the year when
many black A m ericans in rural areas
o f the south and Texas, first got news
of the Em ancipation Proclam ation,
freeing the slaves, signed by Presi­
dent Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1,
1863.
About 800 people participated in
a Portland observance at Portland’s
Bethel A.M .E. (African Methodist
Episcopal) Church.
The church has historic roots in
Portland, dating back to 1889. The
first church building was at North­
w est 10th Ave. and Davis St., later the
congregation held services at South­
w est Sixth Ave. and Stark St. and at
Northwest 13th Ave. and Everett St.
In 1915, Bethel A.M.E. built a
church at North Larrabee Ave. and
McM illen St. in the vicinity o f the
future Memorial Coliseum. The old
church was tore town in 1958 by order of
the city to make room for a parking lot.
Juneteentfi
June 19
Jan. I, 1863, the date o f President Lincoln’s Emancipation
Proclamation, is solemnly commemorated in many American
black communities. It is, however, only one o f a number of
“freedom day” celebrations held on various dates, fo r the end of
slavery was a gradual process and often a local one which evoked
local observances. Thus the date on which GeneralGordonGranger
arrived in Texas, June 19,1863 - with the avowed intention o f
en forcin g L in co ln ’s proclam ation , is com m em orated as
“Juneteenth” in eastern Texas and beyond, and a considerable
body o f tradition and lore has grown up about it.
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Samuela A. Organ of Portland was one of the many people who helped stage “Juneteenth, ” a holiday marking the end of salvery in
Good food was part of the freedom day celebration at Portland's
Bethal A.M.E. Church
America.
Save More At Safewa
Prices effective June 22 through June 28,1994 at Safeway.
1-1/2 Dozen Lucerne
AA Large Eggs
Farm-fresh
white eggs
FIRST ONE
SAVE UP TO
51 1 Each
(i
ea
O ven jo y
F resh B rea d
lA V ^A
• 22.5-0unce
• Wheat or
White bread
• FIRST 3
• SAVE UP TO
93 1 ON 3
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Look In The This Week
Magazine for your Safeway
Shopping Guide for a complete
list of specials on sale this
week at Safeway!
ThisWk
M A G A Z IN
E n io v E x tra S a v in g s W ith T h e
N e w lll-S to r «¿1
S a f e w a y S h o p p in g G u id e
Available at your Safeway i store.
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T v a r a »
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