La Crosse’s African-American mayor observes Juneteenth holiday in the city, and at the State Capitol

The mayor of La Crosse had a busy schedule for Juneteenth, the U.S. holiday commemorating the freedom of slaves after the Civil War.

Shaundel Washington Spivey, elected in April as the city’s first black mayor, visited the Capitol building in Madison early Thursday, to speak at the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus celebration for Juneteenth.

The mayor says receiving a plaque for the occasion was “a very proud moment for me. It meant a lot to be in that space, and to be a part of that Juneteenth celebration.”

Then, the mayor traveled back to La Crosse, in time to preside over a brief Juneteenth ceremony. Washington Spivey and Hope Restores director Shy Jackson raised a Juneteenth flag outside the north entrance of La Crosse City Hall.

The city’s official celebration of Juneteenth happens this weekend at Riverside Park, with several community events on Saturday.

Washington Spivey has been an organizer for Juneteenth events in La Crosse for several years before becoming mayor.