Juneteenth and Father’s Day celebration held at Douglass Park Sunday

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Juneteenth celebrations continue across the nation Sunday, including in Columbia at Douglass Park.

On Sunday, Columbia residents gathered at the park for the second annual Juneteenth celebration and Father's Day.

The newest federal holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S.

Communities across the country are still hurting from recent hateful mass shootings, and people attending the event said it is important to come together.

"I am so happy that our players and our coaches that are out here demonstrate our support for the community," said Mun Choi, University of Missouri President.

Its been 157 years since the day when enslaved black Americans learned of their freedom, around two and a half years after being legally freed.

People take this day to reflect on how far the country has come and what it took to get here but to also remember there is still a lot of work to be done.

"I hope we leave here unified as a city unified as a country unified as a nation unified as a world," said Marilyn Calbert, a Columbia resident.

As people celebrate the national holiday, others still mourn those who lost their lives in a racially motivated mass shooting in buffalo New York that took the lives of 10 black people and injured three others.

May 14 was a tragic event against black people in America and residents say while celebrating today, to remember that racial injustice is not over in this country.

Today's event marks the end of the city's Juneteenth celebrations. On Saturday people celebrated with a parade and games and vendors.

In honor of the holiday all city offices will be closed Monday.