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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><a name="_Hlk63326234"></a><a name="_Hlk70930776"></a><a name="_Hlk128563584"></a><a name="_Hlk503990985"></a><a name="_Hlk532890042"></a><a name="_Hlk532890118"></a><a name="x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><img width="149" height="149" style="width:1.55in;height:1.55in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.png@01DAB2AB.C7031270" alt="A close up of a sign
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">NEWS
RELEASE</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">For
Immediate Release Date: 05/30/2024<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Contact:
Public Information Office Phone: (919) 560-0000/Fax: (919) 560-0020<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">E-mail:
</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="mailto:publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890042"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk532890118"></span>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">NC
Official Juneteenth Flag-Raising Ceremony on June 5<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Free
public event will be held outside of Durham County Courthouse at 11:30 a.m.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"><b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black">Durham,
N.C. –</span></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk63326234"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70930776"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk128563584"></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#2E2E2E">
In honor of the federally-recognized holiday Juneteenth, the second annual North Carolina Official Juneteenth Flag-Raising Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at the Durham County Courthouse (510 S. Dillard Street). The ceremony is scheduled
to begin at 11:30 a.m., and the flag-raising will take place at noon. </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="color:#2E2E2E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#2E2E2E">Spectacular Magazine, Triangle Cultural Awareness Foundation, and fellow North Carolinians
will be present to experience this historic event at the Courthouse. Flag-raising ceremonies recognize the ending of chattel slavery in the United States and have paved the way for Juneteenth to become a nationally recognized holiday. This year marks the
fourth year since Durham County Government officially recognized Juneteenth as a County holiday. This ceremony is the second year Durham County Government has raised the Juneteenth flag, symbolic of the nationwide celebration and the kick-off of the Annual
19th NC Juneteenth Celebration in Durham scheduled on Saturday, June 15.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#2E2E2E">The nationally recognized Juneteenth holiday for 2024 is Wednesday, June 19. Most Durham
County Government offices will close on that day in observance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#2E2E2E">During the upcoming event, Buffalo Soldiers historical re-enactors will hoist the Juneteenth
flag alongside Durham County Sheriff’s Honor Guards, a symbolic act that carries the weight of our history. A ceremonial prayer by Durham NAACP President Rev. Dr. Angelo Burch and a soulful song by renowned vocalist Mary H. Scott will precede the raising of
the flag. Durham County Commissioner Nimasheena Burns, Durham County Sheriff Clarence Burkhead, and Durham City Council member DeDreana Freeman will welcome attendees. CBS 17 News Anchor Rod Carter will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#2E2E2E">Attorney Larry Hall, former Secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Military and Veteran
Affairs, will preside over “The Juneteenth Story” portion of the Ceremony. This portion will include the public reading of the three Freedom Documents (Emancipation Proclamation, 13th Amendment, General Order #3) by NC State Representative Zack Hawkins, former
NC State Representative Mickey Michaux, and former Durham Mayor Elaine O’Neal, respectively. The NC Official Juneteenth Flag-Raising Ceremony is not just a public event but a community gathering. It is free and open to all, inviting all citizens to participate
in this momentous occasion. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#2E2E2E">Community members and visitors will be able to view the official Juneteenth Flag flying
from June 5-19 at the Durham County Courthouse, leading up to the holiday's annual celebrations across the country. This is an opportunity for elected officials, community leaders, business owners, law enforcement, nonprofit organizations, educators, advocates,
and regional media to support this monumental event.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#2E2E2E">Spectacular Magazine founder Phyllis Coley serves as the NC State Juneteenth Director under
the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF), the organization responsible for legislation that culminated in Congress passing and President Joe Biden signing the Juneteenth National Independence Day Bill on June 17, 2021. Continuing to provide proper
context and narrative of Juneteenth National Independence Day is a primary objective of the NJOF.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#2E2E2E">“This second annual NC Official Juneteenth Flag-Raising Ceremony will celebrate and educate
the community on the history and events that were integral parts of the ending of chattel slavery in the United States and the significance of the Juneteenth flag,” said Coley. “These efforts began twenty years ago in 2004, when I started working with state
elected officials to get legislation passed to recognize Juneteenth. We have informed so many in our state and our community about our history. Now more than ever, when some are looking to suppress and erase our history, we celebrate and memorialize this
historical event. In the fondest tradition of our community, we thank the Durham County Commissioners and the Durham County Sheriff for eagerly stepping up to sponsor and participate in this event. As always, Durham is leading the way, this time in celebrating
and educating.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#2E2E2E">For more information on the NC Juneteenth Celebration, visit
</span></span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://spectacularmag.com"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">https://spectacularmag.com</span></a></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#2E2E2E">.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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