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Nacogdoches Texas Celebrates Juneteenth

Courtesy: Courtney Roberts of EDBG Photography

 JUNETEENTH IN NACOGDOCHES, TX - Last Saturday, Nacogdoches, Texas, continued their long tradition of celebrating Juneteenth with a parade and festivities. The designation of Juneteenth as a holiday was topic on which many had an opinion.
 

  •  “My name is Coy Johnson Jr. I’m a veteran. I’m from Nacogdoches, Texas and I think Juneteenth holiday is well past due. It should have been a holiday.” 
     
  • “Cathy Williams, thank god that I am here to see it come through and to be able to pass this on to my granddaughter. And others who may not realize people have really fought and stood for this.” 
     
  • “My name is Zakiya LeGrande Rodriquez. It is great that it is a national holiday. Personally, as far as federal things go, I would much rather see the Voting Rights Bill passed. You know all people deserve, to vote.”  

 
Former Congressman Beto O’Rourke stopped in to speak as part of his statewide effort.

Credit Courtesy: Wynter Chauvin
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Courtesy: Wynter Chauvin
Former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke spoke at the Juneteenth celebration in Nacogdoches, Texas 06.19.21

  “So I have been going city to city in the state,  to talk about voting rights, and democracy and make sure we get a voting rights act passed through Congress, Make sure we rally people around that cause and get it done," O'Rourke explained. 

O’Rourke also reminded us of the untiring effort of East Texan, Opal Lee to have Juneteenth recognized.

“I am grateful for our fellow Texas, Opal Lee, ninety-four years old, who made this her mission in life. And she literally walked to Washington, DC, I think. Born in Marshall, so she’s from East Texas and that’s some great heritage and something to be proud of," O'Rourke said.

Wynter Chauvin lives in Nacogdoches, Texas 

 

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' broadcast and media experience to Red River Radio. He began his career as a radio news reporter and transitioned to television journalism and newsmagazine production. Chuck studied mass communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.