Milwaukee to have significant security for Juneteenth

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- We are a little more than three weeks away from one of Milwaukee's popular summer festivals.

Juneteenth Day is on Father's Day this year -- it's June 19 -- and today, on May 27, organizers issued a blanket invitation.

"There's one America. There's one Milwaukee. And everyone is invited to Juneteenth," said President of Juneteenth Tony Kearney.

Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of slavery in America, and while it has obvious significance for African Americans, the point of today's press conference is that Juneteenth is a holiday for everyone.

Given some of Milwaukee's recent problems, security is a concern for "any" festival. Milwaukee police will have a significant presence -- meeting and greeting visitors.

"Our goal is not to arrest anyone, last year we had no arrests. So we want to continue that same goal this year, but we are prepared to act," said Captain Sharonda Grant of the Milwaukee Police Department.

The centerpiece of Milwaukee's Juneteenth celebration is a street festival festival along Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.

Just last year, President Joe Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a national holiday.