{"id":47233,"date":"2025-06-13T18:58:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T01:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/newmexicoinfocus\/?p=47233"},"modified":"2025-06-13T18:58:03","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T01:58:03","slug":"new-mexicans-gather-in-celebration-of-fights-for-liberation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/newmexicoinfocus\/new-mexicans-gather-in-celebration-of-fights-for-liberation\/","title":{"rendered":"New Mexicans gather in celebration of fights for liberation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Fighting back against oppression doesn\u2019t always look like a battle. Sometimes, it looks like a celebration of the strength and resilience born out of those painful struggles. Many Americans take part in these celebrations throughout the month of June \u2014 from Juneteenth to LGBTQ Pride \u2014 and, this week on New Mexico in Focus, we learn about what that looks like in New Mexico this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juneteenth, a now-federal holiday on the 19th of June, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, marking the day in 1865 when a Union general informed the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, that they were free. The notice came more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Now, 165 years later, the Black Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico is planning what they say will be Albuquerque’s largest-ever Juneteenth event after decades of backyard reunions and parties in the park. They expect 6,000-10,000 attendees at Civic Plaza tomorrow, with other celebrations happening across the state over the next week. Chamber President Karla Causey broke down what this year\u2019s theme, \u201crooted in resilience, rising in unity,\u201d means to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have been through so much as a people, and we don\u2019t allow any of it to stop us,\u201d she said. \u201cThey tried to break us, but it didn\u2019t happen\u2026 we kept rising. And so, because of that, we\u2019re trying to educate people that it doesn\u2019t matter what oppression is happening in your life \u2014 you too can be resilient.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is also LGBTQ Pride Month, which can be traced back to the riots that erupted after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a New York City gay bar, in June of 1969. NMPBS Art and Culture Executive Producer Michael Kamins takes us to the Albuquerque Pride parade on Route 66 to learn what it means for those marching in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here to celebrate the battle, the fight that\u2019s been fought for generations before us so that we can be visible and exist in this world,\u201d Ash Sena, who was marching with Evolution Strength and Conditioning, told Kamins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pride celebrations across New Mexico and the country are taking place in the face of a recent onslaught of executive orders targeting the trans community and the White House declining to issue a Pride Month proclamation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us this week as we learn about how New Mexicans are gathering in celebration of who they are and their communities\u2019 perseverance, both past and present, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Nash Jones, Host<\/p>\n\n\n

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