A big day in Harrisburg Tuesday, as the city commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.
The celebration taking place at the Harrisburg Transportation Center due to its historical significance. On this date, 150 year ago, a forum of African-American leaders and citizens gathered in Harrisburg at the Bethel AME church, which sat where the transportation center is today, to discuss the African-American community’s reaction to the recently passed Emancipation Proclamation.
Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson took part in today’s commemoration, telling the crowd she is where she is today because of the proclamation, saying, “I am a product of all that: the first African-American mayor and the first woman”.
Mayor Thompson was joined by newly appointed state representative Patty Kim, Dauphin County Commissioner Jeff Haste as well as several local pastors and reenactors.