Aurora launched its Juneteenth series of celebrations by unveiling a unique, culturally custom-designed Juneteenth squad car.
A large crowd, including Black police officers from Aurora and neighboring agencies, gathered today at the Aurora Police Department for the unprecedented occasion.
“This is more than symbolic. It is a statement of fact and acknowledgment of history,” said mayor of Aurora Richard C. Irvin. “Juneteenth is not just Black history. It is American history.”
The crowd cheered as the squad car was unveiled by City’s African American Heritage Board members, who supported the police department’s efforts by financially supporting the initiative.
The squad features a kente cloth backdrop with an overlay of the Juneteenth flag and the date of June 19, 1865, prominently displayed on both sides. The rear bumper features the Pan-African red, black, and green flag.
Officers will be assigned to the squad during regular duties over the next two weeks to engage the community in education and conversation about Juneteenth and Black history.
The squad will be prominently featured at upcoming Juneteenth events in Aurora, including the Juneteenth Food Distribution with Black fraternities and sororities on Friday, the Annual Citywide Celebration on Saturday, and the Juneteenth Youth Summit and Flag Raising on Monday, the actual Juneteenth holiday.
This is the first Juneteenth squad car in the region.
— City government of Aurora