Dione Sims and Dr. Opal Lee © Renell Bell LLC
This summer marked the fourth anniversary of Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday, and this milestone moment deserved celebration.
At 98 years old, Dr. Opal Lee, known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” is still on a mission. After walking into history books by helping to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday, she continues her journey—literally—by leading Opal’s Walk for Freedom, an annual event that brings people together to remind Americans of the deeper meaning behind Juneteenth—and the work still left to do.
This year, her legacy took even bigger strides. With the support of her granddaughter, Dione Sims, and the team at Unity Unlimited, Inc., Opal’s Walk for Freedom has expanded its Virtual Walk to give everyone, everywhere, a chance to participate.
This year’s walk was bigger and better than ever before, with a call to action heard across the country: Walk with us to show the power of unity!
“Juneteenth represents the triumph of freedom and the enduring pursuit of equality,” said Sims, regarded as the Granddaughter of Juneteenth for her work to bring her grandmother’s walking campaign to reality. “In a time when cultural expression and freedoms are being challenged, our walk is a reminder that freedom, once won, must be preserved.”
Juneteenth marks the day—June 19, 1865—when the enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom, more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Now, four years into its recognition as a federal holiday, Juneteenth is a national mirror, reflecting our history and guiding us forward.
“It took all ethnicities working together to free the enslaved,” said Sims, “With Quakers and abolitionists helping slaves escape to the North and Mexicans giving asylum to those escaping to the South. Juneteenth can unify our country because it invites conversations about our past and how our past has shaped our present condition.”
From Fort Worth to the World
What began as a local walk in Fort Worth, Texas, has become a nationwide and international movement. The 2025 Opal’s Walk for Freedom served as the national launch of a sweeping campaign to bring the walk to all 50 states by 2026, when the country celebrates its 250th anniversary.
From Los Angeles to New York City, cities are joining the movement by hosting branded walks. Each city will not only walk in solidarity with Dr. Lee but also celebrate its local culture. Last year, the walk even crossed oceans, with Tokyo, Japan, serving as the first international host city.
But it doesn’t stop there. This year’s campaign also continued the virtual walk, designed so anyone, anywhere, could take part. Participants could walk however and wherever they wanted to participate, whether it was a 2.5-mile walk or a group 2.5-mile stroll with friends and family. The goal? To mobilize 1.6 million people, matching the 1.6 million signatures that helped push Juneteenth into national recognition in 2020.
Opal’s Walk for Freedom is also deeply tied to tangible impact. With $6.19 of every registration going toward creating the National Juneteenth Museum, participants are helping preserve Black history and ensure that the stories of freedom and resilience are never forgotten.
True independence is not fully realized until all people are free. Democracy thrives when every voice is heard, every vote counts, and every citizen feels included.
“Juneteenth is for everyone,” said Dr. Opal. “It’s not just for Texans, not just for African Americans. Remember, July 4th freed the land, but Juneteenth freed the people.”
Your steps matter! If you missed the walk this year, don’t wait to register for next year’s walk.
Your registration also doubles as support for the National Juneteenth Museum and other community programs that allow for long-lasting impact. No step is too small, so visit opalswalk.com to learn more.
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On Wednesday, June 19th, Ms. Opal Lee will complete her annual 2.5-mile walk @ the African American Museum of Dallas to recognize the 2.5 years it took for the news and enforcement of freedom to reach the enslaved people in Texas.