MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Music, speeches, food and fun highlighted Tuesday’s Juneteenth Day celebration in Milwaukee.

 The annual event began with a parade and continues until 6:00 p.m. with a street festival. Organizers and festivalgoers say celebrations like this help unite the community.

“We’re here trying to talk to the youth and show the youth how important this day is and learning about our history,” said vendor Sterling Daniels.

Juneteenth Day commemorates the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas were finally told they were free, two years after President Lincoln had abolished slavery.