In Lake Helen, despite the rain Friday night, a group gathered at Blake Park to celebrate unity. Pictured here, Veronica Gomez, Danny Figueroa Jr., Naylene Bartell, Ta’varis Gibson Jr., Tayshon GIbson, Vernon Burton, Roxann Goodman, Stacey Eckert, Joy Taylor, George Taylor, Diane Dean, and Ivenette Negron.
" title=""/>In Lake Helen, despite the rain Friday night, a group gathered at Blake Park to celebrate unity. Pictured here, Veronica Gomez, Danny Figueroa Jr., Naylene Bartell, Ta’varis Gibson Jr., Tayshon GIbson, Vernon Burton, Roxann Goodman, Stacey Eckert, Joy Taylor, George Taylor, Diane Dean, and Ivenette Negron.
After rain on Juneteenth, Lake Helen decided to celebrate again - this time on June 26.
Lake Helen Mayor Daisy Raisler, in front, marches with Lake Helenites to city hall June 26.
Organizer Naylene Bartell speaks on the steps of Lake Helen's city hall.
Lake Helen Police Chief Mike Walker.
PHOTO COURTESY JOY TAYLOR
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PHOTO COURTESY JOY TAYLOR
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PHOTO COURTESY JOY TAYLOR
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PHOTO COURTESY JOY TAYLOR
On Saturday, June 20, local Andre Darby, in red, organized a morning stand against injustice.
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Clayryss and Clayvia Gonsalves.
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DeLand Police Chief Jason Umberger marched with attendees in a Juneteenth celebration.
Sean King and Primrose Cameron.
BEACON PHOTO/ELI WITEK
Juneteenth — an amalgam of “June” and “nineteenth” — is considered the longest-running African American
holiday, and symbolically represents black independence day.
Recent events inspired locals to organize unity and educational events around the day — some for the very
first time.
Staff photographer Marsha McLaughlin traveled to three of the four events planned around Juneteenth.
In Lake Helen, a little rain didn’t stop a group of intrepid locals from meeting the night of June 19.
And in DeLand, high temperatures didn’t dissuade people from gathering at the steps of the Historic
Volusia County Courthouse and later, marching from the Chisolm Center to the Spring Hill BBQ and Soul Food
Lounge.
