Protesters celebrate Juneteenth with a block party

Protesters gathered near MLK Drive and Concordia Friday for a block party in celebration of Juneteenth.

NO JUNETEENTH PARADE INMILWAUKEE THIS YEAR - BECAUSEOF THE PANDEMIC - BUT THAT'SNOT STOPPING THE CELEBRATION.STEPHANIE HAINES... LIVE ATM-L-K AND CONCORDIA.... TOTELL US ABOUTA BLOCK PARTYGOING ON THERE, STEPH:STEVE AND CAROLE: MILWAUKEEWAS THE FIRST NORTHERN CITY TOCELEBRATE JUNETEENTH AND NOWWE'RE IN THE 49TH YEAR.

BUTTHIS YEAR IT TAKES ON A WHOLENEW MEANING.LET'S NOT FORGET THIS IS ABOUTHONORING THE DAY THE FINALENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANSWERE FREED 155 YEARS AGO.

THEYSAY THIS IS ANOTHER WAY TOREFLECT AND TAKE A STANDAGAINST RACISM AND POLICEBRUTALITY.

AND ALSO CELEBRATETHE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEENMADE-- LIKE THE MILWAUKEEPUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD VOTING TOEND ITS CONTRACT WITHMILWAUKEE POLICE.

ALSO THEGOVERNOR INTRODUCING POLICEREFORM LEGISLATION.

I SPOKEWITH SEDAN SMITH...THE BROTHEROF SYLVILLE SMITH.HE WAS SHOTAND KILLED BY A MILWAUKEEPOLICE OFFICER IN 2016...ANDTHAT LED TO THE UNREST INSHERMAN PARK.

HERE'S WHAT HEHAD TO SAY.

:SOT SEDAN SMITH (("This is thepeople's movement, the longestliving black lives matterprotest, and im proud and iknow my brother is proud andim honored to say we are goingto stand here in the city ofmilwaukee until we get achange."))IT GOES ON TIL 6 HERE AT MLKAND CONCORDIA.

MANY HAVE TOLDME JUNETEENTH HAS TAKEN ONEVEN MORE MEANING TODAY....ANDTHEY ARE ENCOURAGING EVERYONETO COME AND SHOW SUPPORT.

LIVEIN MILWAUKEE STEPHANIE HAINESTMJ4 NEWS.