National Million People March for Justice

Hundreds gathered at Kelly Ingram Park on Friday, June 19, for the National Million People March for Justice and celebration of Juneteenth.

They rallied for justice, equality, police reform and the reallocation of funding from police into the Birmingham community, and some called for revolution.

Before marching along the streets of downtown Birmingham, supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement heard from activists, Celida Soto, Oni Williams and Karan Vance.

Anita Cade, a 15-year-old resident of Birmingham, gave a speech about the history of Juneteenth; Michael Verges, of Ashville, recited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech; and the Jefferson County Millennial Democrats reminded people to register to vote. 

As the group marched the streets of downtown,  protesters were met by cars honking in solidarity. Many people recorded video from their cars as marchers passed through intersections. 

The Nationwide March was held in celebration of Juneteenth and in commemoration of George Floyd in cities across the United States.

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day and Emancipation Day, began in 1865 when a Union general announced federal orders declaring that all the slaves in Texas were free. This came about two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Click here to view the full gallery from the march.