POST FALLS — Dozens sang, read poetry and gave speeches to commemorate Juneteenth at Post Falls City Hall on Friday.  

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was June 19 that the Union Soldiers, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and the enslaved were now free. 

But for Merideth Gaftney, Juneteenth is about recognizing others. 

“Just acknowledging the dignity of all people. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and that is lacking in our society right now,” she said. 

Rebecca Harlen Patano was pleased to be part of the celebration.

“I think that looking at our history, or any history, is important and it’s being wiped clean from the slate and that is where truth lies, is in that,” she said. 

Dubbed the “Juneteenth Freedom Walk,” the third annual event was organized by Idaho for All.

In February, Post Falls City Council voted to remove Juneteenth from the city's official holiday list and moved to restore Columbus Day. 

While frustrated with the move, organizers said the freedom walk was held in Post Falls because of safety concerns around the busy schedule of Ironman, Father’s Day and Car d’Lane in Coeur d’Alene, where the event is usually held.

Gaftney dispelled any ideas that the safety concerns were from potential threatening behavior.

“Not that we feel threatened at all, just that we are a crowd of people walking through,” she said.    

Attendees sang “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah” and “This Little Light of Mine," led by Priest David Gortner of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Coeur d'Alene

They then walked to the Q’emiln Park Trailhead Center for the annual Juneteenth Community Conservation hosted by the Human Rights Education Institute. 

Along the way, people chanted “We are free when all are free, Idaho for all!” and “United we stand, divided we fall, Idaho is for all!” while carrying signs and waving to passersby. 

Gaftney’s speech covered unity.

“We belong to the Earth, and we are all really relatives. Help us to learn from our past mistakes and be instruments of peace and justice for all,” she said. 

HREI also held its annual Juneteenth Leadership Panel and Community Conversation on Friday. Themes included liberation, education, resilience, community progress and “Bringing Balance to America's Celebration of Freedom.” 

"Hearing from members of the public, and concerns being addressed though civil dialog has been found to produce the greatest level of empathy and understanding, which lends to strengthened advocacy and positive change for community and government systems," a press release said.

    The crowd sings "This Little Light of Mine" at the third annual Juneteenth Freedom Walk.
  

    Priest David Gortner leads the crowd in singing "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah".