Hundreds walked in Opal Lee’s Walk for Freedom in Fort Worth despite a rain delay. Lee is known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth.
By: Lola Jahant, Staff Writer
Hundreds walked in Opal Lee’s Walk for Freedom in Forth Worth to celebrate Juneteenth on a rainy Friday morning.
The walk was delayed until 10 a.m., one hour past its original start time, due to the rain.
That so many people came despite the weather “says a lot for what my mom and my great-grandmother have worked for to show up even in the hard times, show up when no one else will, just like they did,” said Robyn Sims, 32, the walk’s leader and Lee’s great-granddaughter.
The 2.5-mile walk recognizes the 2.5 years it took for the news of freedom to reach enslaved people in Texas. Lee, 99, is known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth for her efforts to create the federal holiday.
Lee did not attend the walk due to fatigue from the walk’s press conference Thursday, but told her family to lead the walk and “carry on the legacy,” said Promise Roland, 46, granddaughter of Lee.
Among the notable names in attendance was U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, who marched with supporters holding signs that read “Talarico for Texas” around him.
To kick off the parade, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School’s band led the group, with supporters of all ages following behind. As rain trickled, walkers trailed on, wearing ponchos and shirts that read “walking for freedom,” while holding umbrellas and balloons.
Cheri May, 54, came to the walk with her husband and daughter to celebrate Lee, whom she said has been an inspiration for her.
“I want everybody to participate and know how important it is,” May said of the walk. “It doesn’t matter how old you are. You can still get out, and you can still do something and change the world.”
Iyana Schuman and Morgan Alexander, 17, are both Miss Juneteenth scholarship pageant recipients, titled as Miss Freedom and Miss Unity, respectively. In their sashes and crowns, they led the walk with the organizers.
“It’s really important to me,” Alexander said, “to be out here and represent the young people in today’s generation that look like me as well and just continue to uplift our culture.”
Chris Nettles, Fort Worth District 8 council member, also walked in the front of the crown, and has walked for several years. He was elected in 2021 and has been working with the city and walk’s organizers to put it on since.
“I believe that what happened, years ago, that our people weren’t free, because they hadn’t got the word,” Nettles said. “To see these people out here today shows that not only do they support or believe, but they support freedom for all Americans.”
Along the walk route, workers from businesses such as Ramblin Trails Custom Boots and Quick Pick grocery store waved to walkers as they passed by.
King David Reeves, 38, walked with his two daughters, seven-year-old Lelani and four-year-old Alayna, pushing one in a stroller. Reeves said he brought them to the parade to teach them about Juneteenth and show them “strong examples of Black and brown women to model after.”
“It doesn’t matter what age you are, that you can figure out and connect with your purpose,” Reeves said. “As you walk to your freedom, you encourage and inspire others to do the same.”
Staff Writer
Lola Jahant is a breaking news intern at The Dallas Morning News. She graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and is originally from Dallas. She has previously reported for KDFW-TV, D Magazine and the Columbia Missourian.
