Juneteenth1865, produced by Rockford Community leader Tommy Meeks is excited to announce its return for the 34th Juneteenth Celebration. This event is the longest-running Juneteenth Celebration in the state of Illinois! President of ICRG (Inner City Reconstruction Group) and Founder of Rockford Juneteenth Celebrations, Tommy Meeks, created Juneteenth1865 with the sole mission of promoting and cultivating knowledge and appreciation of African American history.

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, celebrates the emancipation of slavery in the United States. It commemorates June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved African Americans held in Confederate states were finally freed by the Union army. Six months later, the Thirteenth Amendment officially made slavery illegal throughout the “entire” United States. Juneteenth has been observed since 1866.