Juneteenth celebrations held in Allentown

June 19, 2025

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Juneteenth celebrations held in Allentown

From a flag-raising ceremony at Allentown City Hall, to free pool admission at Cedar Beach Pool, hundreds of community members celebrate Juneteenth Thursday, June 19, 2025.

See the photos below.

The Rev. Gregory Edwards, pastor of Resurrected Life Community Church in Allentown, opens a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Community members attend a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

Jeani Garcia, interim executive director of Promise Neighborhoods of Lehigh Valley and project coordinator of Coordinated Community Violence Intervention Project, and pastor Genie Watson chat before a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Benjamin T. Hailey Sr., senior pastor at Union Baptist Church in Allentown raises the flag during a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Community members attend a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

The Rev. Addison “Terry” Young III, pastor of St. James AME Church in Allentown, speaks during a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
The Rev. Addison “Terry” Young III, pastor of St. James AME Church in Allentown, speaks during a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Community members attend a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

Benjamin T. Hailey Sr., senior pastor at Union Baptist Church in Allentown, in speaks during a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
A community member stands with her children as they watch a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
The Rev. Gregory Edwards, pastor of Resurrected Life Community Church in Allentown, opens a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

Community members attend a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Paula Brion, an award-winning singer, songwriter, music teacher, and owner of Paula Brion Ent in Allentown, sings the national anthem and the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall during a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony. The ceremony featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Benjamin T. Hailey Sr., senior pastor at Union Baptist Church in Allentown raises the flag during a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

Allentown hosts a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall in collaboration with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches. The ceremony featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Community members attend a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Allentown hosts a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall in collaboration with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches. The ceremony featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

Community members attend a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Community members attend a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
A community member records a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Allentown City Hall. The ceremony, hosted by the city with Resurrected Life, St. James AME and Union Baptist churches, featured numerous speakers and singers, who explained the significance of the holiday, which marks the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

People spend some time Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. Pool entrance fees were waived for city residents to mark the Juneteenth holiday. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
People spend some time Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. Pool entrance fees were waived for city residents to mark the Juneteenth holiday. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Children land in the water Thursday, June 19, 2025, using some of the slides at Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. Fees for the pool area, which also features water fountains and water spouts, were waived for city residents Thursday to mark Juneteenth. (Oliver Economidis/The Morning Call)

A woman in a sun hat watches from the sidelines Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
People spend some time Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. Pool entrance fees were waived for city residents to mark the Juneteenth holiday. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
People spend some time Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. Pool entrance fees were waived for city residents to mark the Juneteenth holiday. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

A woman and child sit Thursday, June 19, 2025, near the edge of Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. Fees for using the pool were lifted Thursday for city residents to mark the celebration of Juneteenth. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
People spend some time Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. Pool entrance fees were waived for city residents to mark the Juneteenth holiday. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
A mother and her daughters stand in the water Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

People spend some time Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. Pool entrance fees were waived for city residents to mark the Juneteenth holiday. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Children land in the water Thursday, June 19, 2025, using some of the slides at Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. Fees for the pool area, which also features water fountains and water spouts, were waived for city residents Thursday to mark Juneteenth. (Oliver Economidis/The Morning Call)
Lifeguards keep watch as people spend some time Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. Pool entrance fees were waived for city residents to mark the Juneteenth holiday. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

Children land in the water Thursday, June 19, 2025, using some of the slides at Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. Fees for the pool area, which also features water fountains and water spouts, were waived for city residents Thursday to mark Juneteenth. (Oliver Economidis/The Morning Call)
People spend some time Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. Pool entrance fees were waived for city residents to mark the Juneteenth holiday. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Two friends sit and chat Thursday, June 19, 2025, near the edge of Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown. Fees for using the pool were lifted Thursday for city residents to mark the celebration of Juneteenth. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

Originally Published: June 19, 2025 at 8:40 PM EDT

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