“We’ve gotta continue to walk, and we’ve gotta walk until all human beings are recognized as full human beings,” said Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church Pastor Natalie Wimberly as she warmed up the crowd for a walk through Greenport ahead at Saturday’s Juneteenth festivities. “We’ve gotta walk until we recognize that every right to vote is exercised, we’ve gotta continue to walk until every child has the education that they’re entitled to have. We’ve gotta continue to walk until all of those that need affordable health care can have affordable health care. We’ve gotta continue to walk until all of us are free and we are practicing our civil liberties. You can’t sit down. You’ve gotta keep walking.”
And walk they did — folks from all over the North Fork, from all walks of life, of every color and creed, with the New York City-based Afro-Brazilian percussion ensemble Mambembé leading the way and Nigerian-American singer Mic Dada lending inspiration to the crowd from the back of CAST’s pickup truck.
In its third year, the festivities drew a crowd to cheer on the marchers and participate in an afternoon of heartfelt music, including the Lavender Light Gospel Choir, and speeches in Mitchell Park, with the blessing of Clinton Memorial’s elders, especially 101-year-old Hattie McKnight, who led the parade.
After all, said Pastor Wimberly, “Juneteenth is for everybody.”
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