Juneteenth event begins in Lawton with focus on health and unity

LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) - Celebrations for Juneteenth 2025 in Lawton kicked off with a prayer breakfast and proclamation signing.

This was followed by a panel discussion at the Union Baptist Church that wrapped up the evening.

The holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed.

The Lawton community gathered at the Union Baptist Church to hear panelists from the medical field to education, to church leadership share information and field questions from the audience concerning mental health as well as other aspects of well-being.

“What we really want is to help our community understand the importance of mental health, physical health, and even spiritual health,” Vice Chair of Lawton Race Relations Commission Dr. Joe Williams said. “We want a healthy community, but a healthy community makes a healthy state, and that’s really important.”

Williams said he hopes this is a kickstart for better self-care.

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