KINGSTON, N.Y. — On Friday, June 19, 2026 - Juneteenth, Harambee Kingston NY, Inc. unveiled a permanent Memorial Monument at the Pine Street African Burial Ground, located at 157 Pine Street, during its annual Juneteenth Gathering and Ceremony. Many community members gathered to honor the Ancestors buried at this sacred site from the early 1600s through 1888.
The Juneteenth celebration, organized by Harambee Kingston NY, Inc., brought together community members, historians, elected officials archaeologists, faith leaders, and supporters for a day of remembrance, reflection, and celebration. The Memorial Monument unveiling represented a major milestone in Harambees' continued commitment to stewardship and preservation of the historic African Burial Ground.
The 7-foot Memorial Monument, carved from South African granite, honors the Ancestors whose lives, labor, and resilience shaped the history of Kingston, New York. One side features an inspirational dedication, while the opposite side is engraved with ASE, a West African spiritual affirmation. The Memorial Monument is the first installment the full design Youth Design of the sacred Memorial ground - working in partnership with KaN Landscape Design, Inc.
“This monument stands not only in memory of those buried here, but also as a testament to the perseverance of a community committed to ensuring their stories are never forgotten,” said Tyrone Wilson, Founder and Executive Director of Harambee Kingston NY, Inc."
A significant moment of the ceremony was the return of the remains of 13 Ancestors from SUNY New Paltz. Their return was marked by the annual Freedom Walk, a solemn procession led by horse-drawn carriages carrying the Ancestors to the Pine Street African Burial Ground. The community then gathered for Harambee’s annual African Burial Ground Ceremony and Juneteenth celebration.
