BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A large group rallied in Dorchester on Friday to celebrate Juneteenth, the anniversary of the day the last slaves were notified of their freedom in Galvaston, Texas in 1865.
Hundreds of people attended the socially-distanced celebration at Town Field Park on Friday afternoon, watching the floats and listening to speakers. Many were wearing face coverings and holding signs that read "Black Lives Matter."
“Juneteenth is the day America finally decided to become America,” organizer Joel Richards told WBZ NewsRadio.
Several local politicians were also at Dorchester's Juneteenth celebration, including Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Rep. Joe Kennedy III.
While the rally was mostly peaceful, shouting erupted at one point after a group showed up outside the park holding signs that read "Blue Lives Matter," "Back The Blue," and waving flags in support of President Trump.
The verbal confrontation across the fence ended after about half an hour, when the group outside the park left.
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(Photo: Karyn Regal/Twitter)