Organizer says Downtown Akron Partnership sidelined original Juneteenth creators; asks council to restore name

Fela Sutton, a longtime organizer of Akron's Juneteenth celebration, told City Council that Downtown Akron Partnership and others excluded her and original vendors from planning the city's Juneteenth events and urged officials to "change that name back."

Sutton listed partners she said had reached out to help rebuild the festival this year — including Margo, Leon at the fire department, officer Miller, Jan Davis, Tara Samples, Butchy the Barber, Earl Holmes, G Force Security, Fred Hampton Gun Club, Kindred Spirit Behavioral Health, and "the black business vendors of the black business market at Juneteenth." She said those contacts were too little, too late and that for years the event's leadership had not respected the community that built it.

"You can't uplift black people while intentionally silencing the ones who built the table you guys think you can sit at and tell us what to do from," Sutton said. She accused organizers of meeting behind the scenes and reaching out to her vendors without including her or other original planners, and implored the council to return the festival name and planning to the community members who created it.

Sutton said the dispute reflects a broader pattern of exclusion: "For the longest time, I couldn't figure out why. In this age of inclusion and performance politics meant to uplift the black community, you continuously show a deep lack of respect and understanding of the culture and the people you claim to represent." She closed by saying the city and event organizers "deserve better" and that she wants dignity and rest.

Council did not take formal action on the Juneteenth dispute during the meeting.