Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition to host 1st Bethesda Juneteenth celebration June 19

The Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition will host the first Juneteenth celebration in Bethesda on Saturday, June 19, 2021 from 12:00-4:00 PM. Attendees will gather at Macedonia Baptist Church at 5119 River Road in Bethesda at noon, and then march over to the site of the hidden Moses African Cemetery at 5204 River Road (behind McDonald's). A long list of speakers and performers has been assembled for the event, including:

Speakers:

Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition (BACC)

Carroll R. Gibbs, Historian

Baba Mosi Matsimela, President, Woodson-Banneker, Jackson Baye, Div. 33 - UNIA-ACL RC2020

Rev. Segun Adebayo, Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, BACC

Mr. Harvey Matthews, Descendant, River Road Community

Senghor Jawara Baye, 1st Assistant President-General Government of the UNIA-ACL RC2020

Arthur McCloud, Chair, WPFW, Local Station Board

Melody Cooper, Mother of Kwamena Ocran, killed by Gaithersburg Police

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., Hip Hop Caucus

Dr. Jack Rasmussen, Director, The American University Museum, Katzen Arts Center

Dr. Zainab Chaudry, Director, CAIR, Maryland Office

Josh Odintz, JD, Holland and Knight Law Firm

Dr. Mustafa Ali, V.P. National Wildlife Federation

Jeffrey Slavin, Mayor, Town of Somerset

Brandy Brooks, Candidate, Montgomery County Council At-Large

Perry Paylor, Candidate, State's Attorney

Bernice Mireku North, Candidate, State's Attorney

Gaithersburg City Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles, Candidate for Montgomery County Council At-Large

Ralph Wooden, BACC

Martha Peterson, BACC

David Mott, Poor People's Campaign, Montgomery County

Howie Hawkins, 2020 Presidential Candidate, Green Party

Vanessa Till, BACC

Ari Gutman, BACC

Hanna Schwadron, Structures for Change

Dr. Dante O'Hara, Claudia Jones School, CP

Robert Stubblefield, BACC, DSA

Adam Simon, BACC, Anti-Racist Coalition

Mia Carmel, BACC, Anti-Racist Coalition

Artists/performers:

Evergreen Productions, Nana Malaya Rucker, Ayomi

Dr. Karen Wilson Ama'Echefu, Andrea Hines, B.E. Farrow,

African Drummers and Dancers

Support Organizations:

United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) Woodson-Banneker, Jackson Baye, Div. 33 - UNIA-ACL RC2020

Maryland Green Party

Bethesda Anti-Racist Coalition

Hip Hop Caucus

United Negro Improvement Association - National

WPFW - 89.3 FM

CAIR

Poor People's Campaign, Montgomery County

Claudia Jones School

Cameroon American Council

National Alliance Against Racial and Political Repression

Standing Up for Racial Justice