Betty Sawyer talks to the group before they get in their cars to celebrate Juneteenth by caravanning on the streets in Ogden on Saturday. The event was sponsored by Weber State University as part of Utah’s Juneteenth Freedom & Heritage Festival, the state’s celebration of the holiday marking the anniversary of June 19, 1865, the day that the the last enslaved people in the United States were freed. “United In Hope” was chosen as the theme of this year’s festival in Utah. “We currently are experiencing issues around racism, inequality and discrimination,” said Betty Sawyer, WSU Access & Diversity community engagement coordinator. “Without coming to terms with the legacy of slavery, and all of its byproducts, we spend more time denying than making meaningful progress dismantling those systems embodied within slavery and racism. Instead, we need to promote and do the work of justice and equality.” Due to health concerns, most of WSU’s Juneteenth events were held virtually, but the caravan could be done safely in person.
