Akron, Ohio, June 14, 2024 — Today, the City of Akron has cancelled large gatherings on city-owned property this weekend due to concerns raised by members of Akron City Council. Late this afternoon, 8 city councilmembers shared a letter by email asking the Mayor to cancel Juneteenth events this weekend due to safety concerns. This was signed by the two ward representatives where Juneteenth events were scheduled to take place. You can view the letter here. Based on the City Councilmembers’ letter and the stated concerns in the letter, Mayor Malik is cancelling the following weekend events:
Friday, June 14
- Rock the Lock at Lock 3 Park
- Concert and Water Tower Market at Triangle Park
Saturday, June 15
- Blue Heron Festival at the Mustill Store
- Akron Juneteeth Festival at Stoner/Hawkins Park
- Ward 5 5th Annual Juneteenth Festival at Joy Park Community Center
- Nu You Event at Hardesty Park
- North Hill 5K
- American Heart Association Heart Walk
Sunday, June 16
- West Akron Parade and Juneteenth Father’s Day Celebration at Buchtel CLC and Kerr Park
- Church in the Park at Devenport Park
- Wellness on the Plaza on Cascade Plaza
Despite this decision out of deference to our City Councilmembers, there is no credible threat to this weekend’s Juneteenth events or other events, and over the past week Mayor Malik has worked with Akron Police Chief Brian Harding and Akron Fire Chief Leon Henderson to ensure safety personnel would be present at weekend events.
It is important that our community safely gather and mark important occasions. As such, the City of Akron will be sponsoring an official celebration for Juneteenth at the John S. Knight Center this Wednesday, June 19th. We are asking all organizers or vendors who were part of the community events this weekend to be a part of this event. More details to follow.
“This weekend’s events - Juneteenth celebrations in particular - were an opportunity for our community to come together and congregate in Akron with family and friends,” says Mayor Shammas Malik. “Public safety has been a priority of our administration from day one, and we actively worked with the Akron Police Department, Akron Fire Department, and the organizers of the Juneteenth events to provide safety personnel. We look forward to hosting the community at the John S. Knight Center on Wednesday. We recognize that many will be impacted by the cancellation of this weekend’s events, and we encourage everyone to participate in Wednesday’s event.