LEHIGH VALLEY

Civic and religious groups will host a Juneteenth Freedom Celebration June 19 in Allentown.

The event will be held 5-7 p.m. in the parking lot of Resurrected Life Community Church, 144 N. Ninth St.

Juneteenth marks the day more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed that black and African slaves in Texas heard they had been freed June 19, 1865.

Resurrected Life Community Church, Promise Neighborhoods Lehigh Valley, Faces International, Martin Luther & Coretta Scott - King Memorial Project, Make the Road PA and Lehigh Valley Stands Up are hosting the event. All are welcome to join. Social distancing measures will be followed and masks will be made available for those who do not have masks.

People who are unable to leave their homes may join the celebration via Facebook Live during the event.