![]() Leominster based rap artist AV-8 took to the stage at the Fitchburg Juneteenth event held on June 17 at the Fitchburg Senior Center. Kushmerek recognized the community leaders who have been leading the abolitionist park efforts since the beginning of the project and how “everyone came together and rallied around this.”ĭay said, “Simone is here in spirit” and shared that she and Blake’s daughter went to the park that morning before thanking everyone for coming. A letter from her sits on his desk at the State House and when he sees it, he remembers her words to him: “You better deliver.” Kushmerek cited the late Simone Blake, one of the founding and most active FFAP board members who died in November 2022, and how he promised her that he would help get funding for the park. “Black and brown people are still dying in the streets,” he said. “We take this weekend and recognize the progress that’s been made… we get to embrace this moment,” Kushmerek said, noting that commemorating Juneteenth is also about needing to “recommit ourselves.” John Cronin were able to secure that will be used to help pay for the board. Michael Kushmerek presented a $30,000 check to FFAP members, state funding he and State Sen. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)Ĭocuzza announced that Phase 3 of the park would involve installing an augmented interactive board at the Snow Street spot. to r.) Friends of Fitchburg Abolitionist Park Treasurer Michele Cocuzza, board member Ixchel Thibault-Muñoz, and co-chairs David Thibault-Muñoz and Danette Day at the Fitchburg Juneteenth event held on June 17 at the senior center. Representative Michael Kushmerek (far right) presented $30,000 in state funding to (l. Thibault-Munoz’s daughter Ixchel Thibault-Muñoz, an FFAP board member, emceed the program along with Hall and Cocuzza and Fitchburg Access Television filmed it. Members of the FFAP, which organized the event, were present, including co-chairs Danette Day and David Thibault-Muñoz, Treasurer Michele Cocuzza, members Ruby Hall, Bernie Schultz, and Sam Squailia, and others. Community organizations such as Friends of Fitchburg Abolitionist Park (FFAP), the Fitchburg Historical Society, NewVue, Three Pyramids, and others were on hand at the June 17 tribute surrounded by bunting, banners, and balloons in black, green, yellow, and red, the colors of Africa, and Caribbean Press food truck and Leominster’s Spanish-American Center offered ethnic cuisine. federal holiday that marks the beginnings of the abolishment of slavery on June 19, 1865, was moved indoors to the senior center because of weather. Originally scheduled to be held at the Fitchburg Abolitionist Park, the annual affair that coincides with the U.S. FITCHBURG - Unity and community were at the forefront of the event held in the city over the weekend to commemorate Juneteenth. ![]()
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