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FBI Displays Juneteenth Flag Outside Washington Headquarters

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1 year ago

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The FBI displayed the Juneteenth flag outside its Washington headquarters over the recently designated three-day weekend, joining a number of city hall buildings in various municipalities across the country.

“With Juneteenth around the corner, the FBI is flying the Juneteenth flag outside of our headquarters as a celebration of freedom and a reminder that our work is never done when it comes to protecting the rights of all Americans,” wrote the bureau in a tweet accompanied by a picture of the flag flying in Washington D.C.

The Juneteenth flag was designed by Boston-based activist Ben Haith in 1997 while the present version was updated in 2000. The flag uses red, white and blue, the colors of the American flag, and features a lone star similar to the flag of Texas. Juneteenth celebrations originated in Texas to commemorate the emancipation of slaves in 1865.

According to Haith, the rising star symbolizes a “new day of freedom” for black Americans.

“It means an awakening,” said Haith when asked what Juneteenth meant to him by CBS Boston. “I just think we are living in an interesting time. Young people are important to me. You are what we call the future generation.”

“Our ancestors were a part of this country even though many of them were in captivity,” said Haith. “A lot of people have come to understand that, particularly young people.”

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The FBI joined several municipalities, including Richmond, Cedar Rapids, Durham and a number of additional cities across the nation in raising the flag at government buildings.

Others, including Albany and Dallas, raised the red, black and green “black liberation” flag outside their respective government buildings. “I have issued a proclamation in observance of Juneteenth, Monday, June 19,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. “I also announced that the red, black, and green Black Liberation Flag will be raised in front of Albany City Hall on Monday, June 19.”

The flag — also known as the Pan African flag — was designed by Marcus Garvey in the 1920’s.

U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) echoed Mayor Sheehan’s sentiments in declaring that Juneteenth represents “black liberation” and shared her own thoughts on the holiday.

“It’s Juneteenth AND reparations. It’s Juneteenth AND end police violence + the War on Drugs. It’s Juneteenth AND end housing + education apartheid. It’s Juneteenth AND teach the truth about white supremacy in our country,” Bush wrote in a tweet Monday.

“Black liberation must be prioritized.”



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