Juneteenth to July 4th

An opportunity to reflect on Freedom and Racial Injustice

Between Juneteenth Day (June 19th) and Independence Day, the Hopkinton Freedom Team and members of our community provided an array of programming, including daily educational content and calls to action to encourage community members to reflect on Freedom and Justice. 

The sixteen days between the two holidays also represent an opportunity to inspire a more honest conversation about our nation’s complicated past and present experience with racial injustice. 

View Juneteenth Event Page

Raising the Juneteenth Flag at Town hall

The event started with the raising of the Juneteenth Flag at Town hall and also educating the public about the significance and symbolism of the flag.



On June 17, 2021, for the first time, the Town of Hopkinton raised a flag to recognize Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The Juneteenth Flag will hang from June 17 until July 4th in front of town hall and below the American Flag.

https://hopkintonindependent.com/photo-juneteenth-flag-raising/


Land Acknowledgement

The event included an important message of land acknowledgement, in acknowledging that the Nipmuc people were the original residents and stewards of this land which became the town of Hopkinton in 1715. 


The Hopkinton Lights Up As One Sign  

In collaboration with SACH (South Asian Circle of Hopkinton), a sign of unity that reads 'Hopkinton Lights Up As One' was lit up using different colors at the Town Common as an artifact to encourage Calls to Actions for each of the letters of the 'HOPKINTON' acrostic throughout the sixteen days until the 4th of July National Independence Day. 



HOPKINTON Acrostic

Each letter from the word 'HOPKINTON' was used to create educational posts throughout the sixteen days.

What is Juneteenth? Why do we celebrate Juneteenth? 

O - Oppression
What is Oppression? What does modern day Oppression look like?

P - Pride
What acronym do I use? What is LGBTQ+? What does it mean to be a member of the LGBTQIA+ in Hopkinton?

K - Kindness
Micro-affirmations, an antidote to microaggressions?

I - Inclusion and Identity
Children who have a close relationship with their teacher are likely to see the classroom as a safe and affirming learning environment.

N - Nationality
What are nationality, citizenship, ethnicity and race? What are some myths and facts about immigration?

T - The Constitution
“The U.S. Constitution”, at its very inception, promoted the institution of slavery and allowed slavery to expand dramatically in the first eighty plus years of our nation.

O - Origins
We explore origins through two poems: My Ancestry DNA by Fred LaMotte and Color ©️ by Namrata Mathur.

N - National Independence Day
In our nation, what is independence? Is it a privilege or a right? Does everyone who is part of our nationality have independence? 



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