Juneteenth Flag Raised at SD County Admin Center for First Time

By Cori Zaragoza | Staff Writer Photos: Mike Norris

For the first time in San Diego history, the Juneteenth flag was raised at the County Administration Center on Friday, June 17th. A special ceremony was held on the east plaza, hosted by Board of Supervisors Chair Nathan Fletcher, in partnership with the Office of Equity & Racial Justice, Young Black & N’Business, the African American Association of County Employees, Black American Political Association of California, and the Cooper Family Foundation.

The morning started with a rendition of the Black National Anthem, sung by Mother Dorothy Williams of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. An oral history of Juneteenth, spoken by Vanessa Green of the Office of Equity & Racial Justice, followed Ms. Williams performance.

“By honoring Juneteenth we are acknowledging this Country’s original sin; slavery, the most shameful and painful period in United States’ history,” said Chair Fletcher in a press release. “There are lingering injustices that continue to require our attention, while celebrating the achievements of African Americans in spite of it all.”

In addition to the flag being raised, the County Administration Center was also lit up in red and green colors to honor Juneteenth.

“Over fifty years ago in San Diego, Sidney Cooper Sr. opened a string of small businesses housed in one storefront in Southeast San Diego, in one of the largest historically African American neighborhoods,” said Kayla Mains, Cooper Family Foundation Juneteenth Organizing Committee member, on the history of Juneteenth celebrations in San Diego in a press release. “With his own money, Sidney started 'The Cooper Family Juneteenth Celebration'. Today, Sidney’s children and the Cooper Family Foundation continue this project and have been holding the annual event in honor of his memory and with the same intentions of unifying people.”