Huge crowds take to downtown Vancouver for Juneteenth Freedom March (PHOTOS)

Hundreds of people are currently marching through downtown Vancouver to join the Juneteenth “March in Unity,” the latest Vancouver demonstration in support of the Black community.

• See also:
  • Black Vancouver’s “March in unity” will commemorate Juneteenth today
  • Black Vancouver to host Emancipation Day march next week
  • Protest in support of Black Lives Matter blocks Georgia Viaduct

June 19 marks “Juneteenth” – also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day — an annual holiday that began in 1865 to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.

This march was organized by Nova Stevens and Shamika Mitchell, and it began at 4 pm at Jack Poole Plaza before heading down to finish at Sunset Beach. 

#VanTraffic: Thurlow is closed from Cordova St. to Beach Ave. Expect all surrounding streets to be congested.

— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) June 20, 2020

The VPD is reminding drivers to expect delays this evening and to consider alternate routes.

This is the fourth weekend in a row Vancouverites have joined protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The first two weekends after George Floyd’s death, demonstrators came to the Vancouver Art Gallery and then Canada Place. The following week, protesters occupied the viaducts to encourage the City of Vancouver to adopt the local Black Lives Matter chapter’s demands.

 

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Love is love #blm #juneteenth

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With files from Rumneek Johal