<p>Interesting emeraldkity…as I’ve said, learn something new everyday. I certainly don’t have a problem with Juneteenth becoming a day celebrated beyond Texas. Interesting phenomenon though.</p>
<p>And I have to say in all the years that I’ve personally observed Juneteenth celebrations in our area, it has always been a passive, joyous occasion. Good food, good music, no violence. But I guess if you get enough people together, throw in alcohol and poor crowd control … and there will always be some bad apples who want to ruin what is a good thing for everyone else. Personally, my feeling is Juneteenth organizers would do better to acknowledge what happened in Austin is not something unique to Juneteenth celebrations…rather than be in denial about what happened. It’s a much better defense, if that is what they are after.</p>
I don’t see that anyone is in denial about what happened. If anything, with regard to the Austin incident, the press is DOWNplaying any relationship between the incident and the Juneteenth celebration. It does, in fact, appear that the incident WAS separate and apart from the Juneteenth fesitvities; however, as I noted above, the people who ended up in the parking lot would most likely not have been there to begin with but for the “spillover” from that celebration. </p>
<p>There were, however, at least two other incidents of violence that WERE directly related to Juneteenth celebrations: the one in Milwaukee and the one in Syracuse. That was notable to me–three incidents on the same day either at or in close proximity to the celebrations. </p>
<p>Also, I don’t think that anyone is contending that these types of incidents are unique to Juneteenth celebrations. Anytime you get large groups of celebrating people together, you run the risk of combustion.</p>
<p>yes…berurah…exactly. That is how you and I feel. </p>
<p>But I do know that the spin here in Houston was initially that this was a Juneteenth celebration out of control, with the subtle (or not so) undertones that this is what you get when poor people of color congregate. Nasty little innuendos…very unseemly. Which is why I think there is such a deliberate effort NOW, on the behalf of some, to portray what happened in Austin as something completely separate. NEITHER assertion is true. What happened at the Juneteenth celebration in Austin was because there was a Juneteenth celebration. It’s no different than what happens at an English soccer game when crowds become uncontrollable. My point is…don’t apologize or retreat in coming up with explanations. To do so ‘feeds the beast’ so to speak.</p>
I totally agree, ld. Those “nasty little innuendos” don’t benefit <em>anyone</em>. Even the ones concerning rich people “not of color”…you know, the ones who throw wild parties and hire strippers. None of us is exempt from “isms”…unfortunately. And they’re not any more palatable or excusable in the reverse.</p>