Pittsburgh council votes to fund 2nd Juneteenth celebration

Just three days before Juneteenth’s kickoff event, City Council members voted unanimously to continue to fund a privately run celebration in addition to this year’s city sponsored event.

For the first time, Pittsburgh will be hosting its own Juneteenth festival, after paying more than $100,000 to William B. Marshall, a longtime organizer of the festivities in prior years.

Councilman Bob Charland, D-South Side, previously said that providing Marshall with city support hopefully will “allow this to be the cause for celebration it should be,” rather than be a source of drama and controversy.

On Tuesday, the motion passed 8-0. Charland was absent from the morning’s meeting and did not vote.

In May, the city chose to award the money for the event to Bounce Marketing & Events through a standard competitive bidding process, which sparked controversy among city council members.

The city chose Bounce, a local event organizer, because the cash would be spent primarily on local artists.

Last year Marshall’s Juneteenth celebration was authorized up to $250,000 over up to two years, but the city ultimately only signed a contract with him for half the amount for one year.

Marshall and his supporters condemned Mayor Ed Gainey after Marshall lost the competitive bid for funding.

He said that many people think the money funding the event would be going to him. Marshall said this is not the case.

“The funding is for the community,” Marshall said.

After 11 years of hosting, Marshall said he would continue to host his own Juneteenth event even without the city’s support.

In a preliminary vote last week, City Council voted unanimously to give POISE Foundation, which works with Marshall, $125,000 in federal covid-19 relief money, in addition to the $125,000 awarded to Bounce.

Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith, D-West End, did not attend the meeting last week..

Council’s goal was “to follow through on our original intent,” according to council President R. Daniel Lavelle, D-Hill District.

Marshall’s event will be held June 14-16 in Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh.

In May, Gainey announced that the inaugural city-sponsored Juneteenth event will be held on June 29, around the Greenwood Plan building on Smithfield Street in Downtown Pittsburgh.

“It’s kind of vindication,” Marshall said. “We look forward to hosting another year of Juneteenth activities.”