BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Pan-African flag was raised outside of Buffalo City Hall on Friday, in advance of the annual Juneteenth Festival.
Buffalo's Juneteenth Festival is celebrating 49 years. In fact, Buffalo's Juneteenth Festival is one of the oldest in the nation.
"My job now is to make sure that Juneteenth lasts for another 49 years," festival organizer Marcus Brown told 2 On Your Side. "We need to be able to pass the torch so young children will be able to enjoy Juneteenth."
That's why people were singing as the ceremonial flag was raised in Niagara Square. The flag is red, black and green.
"I am proud to be African-American in the City of Buffalo and the United States of America," Buffalo Common Council member Leah Halton-Pope said. "So as we stand here boldly today, to acknowledge Juneteenth and celebrating how free-ish we are, because we're not there yet, we're not there until everybody can feel equality."
It was a sea of togetherness during Friday's event.
"As we move forward, not forgetting what took place but honoring it, what took place, and what we're continuing to do by being extremely intentional with our words and our actions," Buffalo Common Council president Christopher Scanlon said.
Buffalo City Hall will be closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. The Queen City was one of the first cities to recognize Juneteenth as an official paid holiday for government workers.
"Keeping the culture alive. That's really what it's about," Common Council member Zeneta Everhart said.