Join us on State & Van Buren on June 19, 2019 at 12pm for a city-wide Juneteenth celebration!

Juneteenth (June 19th) is an African American holiday that commemorates the emancipation of Black enslaved people in the United States. Juneteenth is celebratory, multi-generational, and geared towards Black families. This event is particularly significant this year as 2019 marks the 400th year anniversary of Black enslavement in the United States.

Join us on Saturday, June 29th at Pottawatomie Park (7340 N Rogers Avenue) for our 2019 #WorldRefugeeDay Celebration! Event details listed below:

Soccer Tournament: 8:00am – 4:00pm (break at 12pm to join One Human Family March)

Multi-cultural performances & speakers: 10:00am – 12:00pm, 1:00pm – 3:00pm (line-up TBA)

One Human Family March: 12:00pm – 1:00pm

Youth Activities: 10:00am – 2:00pm

We hope to see you there!

If you have any questions about the event or would like to get involved, please email Shannon Ericson (sericson@heartlandalliance.org) or David Helfand (david.helfand@iraqimutualaid.org)

Interested in supporting the event? Donate to our GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/7c45tr-world-refugee-day-2019

Sign up to volunteer: http://bit.ly/2Mg0uDE

A discussion with retired Col. Ann Wright (veteran of four past flotillas) and Gazan scholar/activist Jehad Abusalim, on Thursday July 18, at 7 PM at Grace Episcopal Church will open three days of action- From July 18-20, 2019, Voices for Creative Nonviolence will join with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s US Boats to Gaza campaign, supporting their North American Freedom Flotilla for Gaza project. On Friday July 19, at 11:30 AM, there will be a march from the Israeli consulate, 500 W. Madison, to a protest rally at Boeing corporate headquarters 100 N. Riverside Plaza at noon. On Saturday July 20th at a time to be announced, a mini-flotilla of kayaks and an electric boat will be launched on the Chicago River, bearing messages in support of freedom for the people of Gaza. Along with those on the river, we will need participants with signs, banners and leaflets in the streets and on the bridges.

Since 2010, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition has sent many international flotillas sailing to Gaza to highlight the brutal violation of international law and of Gazans’ human rights that is the Israeli government’s lethal Gaza blockade. Voices members have joined past flotilla actions seeking to free Gazans from a crushing economic siege and from airstrikes, arrests, torture, and the myriad human rights violations inherent in apartheid. It is time to give Gazans desperately-needed access to food, fuel, medicine, employment, & basic human dignity. The next international sailing is in 2020, but this summer our message is for the people of the United States. Join us! Contact us through this page or at info@vcnv.org