GREENFIELD — A crowd gathered on the Greenfield Common Thursday afternoon to commemorate Juneteenth with a message that though progress has been made, there is still a ways to go.

Juneteenth, now in its fourth year as a federal holiday, commemorates June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved Americans in Texas were made aware of their emancipation. After Twice As Smart Director Gloria Matlock led a group of students in song, numerous speakers stood at the podium to reflect on the importance of the holiday as an occasion for Americans to celebrate freedom and the ongoing pursuit of racial justice.

“Juneteenth is a time when people of all races, nationalities and religions come together to recognize the painful history of slavery and the lasting impact of systemic racism and racial injustice in the United States. This momentous day also serves as an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the goal of creating a more equal and just society,” Mayor Ginny Desorgher said in her Juneteenth proclamation. “Therefore, be it resolved that on the 19th day of June, I, Virginia Desorgher, mayor of Greenfield, do hereby proclaim June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth Day in the city of Greenfield, and encourage everyone to celebrate this holiday and the timeless values it stands for.”

Human Rights Commission Chair Mpress Bennu has organized a Juneteenth celebration in Greenfield since 2022. Bennu recited Maya Angelou’s 1978 poem “And Still I Rise,” after voicing her appreciation for the event’s growth in Greenfield.

“I do want to say how important Juneteenth is, and how far we’ve come as a community from the first time in 2022, when I first said I wanted to do something for Juneteenth. ... Four years later, we’re having our own city proclamation of Juneteenth. That goes to show how far we can come together,” Bennu said. “From the bottom of my heart, I just want to say thank you. From the beginning, [you are] people who I now call sisters, brothers, family and friends. I truly appreciate you, and I love you and I wish you nothing but the best.”

Other speakers included Desorgher’s Chief of Staff Erin Anhalt, Greenfield Business Association Director Hannah Rechtschaffen, Greenfield Savings Bank President and CEO Thomas Meshako, and Police Chief Todd Dodge, who referenced the number of peaceful gatherings the city has seen in recent months, both at No Kings Day and at the city’s Pride celebration.

Dodge noted that the Police Department is hoping to diversify its force to make it more reflective of the people it serves. He encouraged members of the community to join the police force.

“Mpress continues to inspire all of us and, despite continued struggle, she keeps up the fight. … We have a long way to go, but I truly believe we’re at least headed in the right direction. Just look at what’s taking place in our small community over the last weekend, other weekends such as that — more and more people are standing up for what they believe in, and they do it peacefully, respectfully and meaningfully,” Dodge said. “We, your Police Department, must truly represent the population in which we serve. Therefore, we continue to need your help with that recruitment effort. Come join us. It’s a great place to work.”

This year’s Juneteenth festivities will continue Saturday with a celebration and ceremony at the Greenfield Common from 2 to 7 p.m., followed by a dance party at the Moose Lodge from 6 to 10 p.m.

Bennu will host the first-ever Juneteenth awards ceremony on Saturday, where 14 trophies will be given to organizations for their support of the city’s Juneteenth festivities. Awards will be given in the following categories: top sponsor for four years, youth, Juneteenth support for four years, Juneteenth community partnership for four years, community support in 2025, Juneteenth Person of the Year and a special tribute award.

“Every group should be committed to securing and maintaining the rights of every group; that is how justice is sustained for all of us,” Greenfield Community College Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Angela Campbell said. “On behalf of all of our ancestors that brought us forward, that moved us to this place, into this sacred space, into these lands, we have to rectify the problems and the genocide and the tragedies of the past. We have to acknowledge them. We have to honor the descendants of the people who are harmed by unconsciousness and then restore that love and that consciousness as a member of the human family. And it’s truly with truth and reconciliation that that is possible.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.