Written by T. Scott Boatright
Despite the fact that Grambling State University was closed on Thursday in honor of the Juneteenth holiday, several of its staff and students arrived on campus before 7:30 a.m.
A 5K run and a 1-mile walk were held throughout the campus to commemorate the occasion, with over 50 students and staff members starting and finishing in front of T.H. Harris Auditorium.
Juneteenth honors the day that slavery was officially abolished in the United States. The date that federal forces arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to seize control of the state and guarantee the emancipation of all enslaved people is known as Juneteenth, which is short for June 19th.
Katrell Askins, a GSU honor student from Hillside, Illinois, won the race, which was also attended by GSU President Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr.
Askins finished his 5K run in 22:03, over two minutes faster than the person in second place.
