Despite new challenges, Juneteenth event organizers are unbowed

<img alt="Atmosphere at the 4th Annual Black On The Block Juneteenth Festival on June 15, 2025, in Los Angeles." src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3984x2656+0+0/resize/3984x2656!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F73%2F38%2F3226af9444648a8aa07fdf724d81%2Fgettyimages-2220386261.jpg" /><p>Organizers of Juneteenth celebrations across the U.S. tell NPR how they're feeling this year. And NPR presents a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation.</p><p>(Image credit: Kayla Oaddams)</p><img src="https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5011584" />