Saratoga BLM holds inaugural Freedom Fest

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — High Rock Park was filled with people wanting to celebrate freedom and abolition at Saratoga BLM’s inaugural Emancipation Day.

Offering free food and the opportunity to connect with more than 30 vendors, artists, poets, musicians and local organizations Freedom Fest presented a platform for the community to gather and enjoy the evening.

“Slavery ended on July 4 1827 and black New Yorkers decided that because white Americans celebrate their Independence on the fourth, there is a quote from Daniel Payne that says that ‘we deem it that we should celebrate on the fifth,’ so that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Alexus Brown, Director of Communications for Saratoga BLM shared.

Cheyenne Clarke was one of the many individuals who took part in this event, having a booth for her small business Womb2Womb which is centered around connecting with others’ creative centers and offering a space for people to be all that they are and to feel the wide range of emotions that come with being human.

Clark decided she wanted to take part in Freedom Fest because of the community involved and to use it as a way to connect with others.

“I love community and things that bring everyone together,” Clarke said. “A lot of the artists here are part of my community so I wanted to come out and support them, support the musicians and artists. I’m looking forward to the vibes and people and the interactions — it is a new moon after all.”

“I think this (event) as a whole truly goes back to that idea of community space and just connection. If people feel like they are alone, they essentially will be alone. Loneliness is, essentially, an epidemic so I think having these spaces that are for new artists and artists in general, people in general, to come out and feel like they are a part of something in a loving and safe space is important.”

This idea of community was something that was shared by many of the vendors. Many shared that they chose to get involved because of the unifying nature of it, like artist Sky Bruschi with twelvethirtyfour.art, shared that they found the event through a social media post sent by a friend and after learning a bit more really wanted to take part.

“The whole event kind of aligns with my views and events like these help build community and bring like-minded people together,” Bruschi said. “It’s just good to meet people and get together to connect.”

This unifying event comes on the heels of Saratoga BLM having to cancel their Juneteenth event following an “anonymous and inaccurate complaint.” Instead of letting that shut them down, Saratoga BLM decided they would make an even bigger event and after a week and a half of work, Freedom Fest stands as a testament to their resilience.

Speaking out and standing up against injustice and inequality was another thing shared by many of those in attendance, like Rae’ Frasier and her brand  Art Money which is centered on self-sustainability, trusting in one’s intentions and ability to create, spreading love and positivity as well as exposing people to the voices that are speaking out against injustice.

“Saratoga, as we all know, is very, super, white bread, predominantly white residents live here and something as loud as Black Lives Matter, that quote and events like that — it’s not just about Black lives supporting Black Lives, right?” Frasier said. “It’s about this event and other events like this being rooted in love, essentially, is a language that should be spoken by everyone, regardless of your shape, size, color, orientation it doesn’t matter.

“Events like this are important to cultivate community and love and spread awareness and social justice in the face of injustices. Us standing as a unit. People who are not of color support the community, and black events like this are really important to garner community so that we can keep promoting love and speaking out against injustice.”

The Palestinian Rights Committee, a committee working for Palestinian rights, was another organization in attendance at Freedom Fest, sharing they were there to stand in solidarity with Saratoga BLM  because in their eyes both groups’ struggles are connected.

“(The event) It’s very inspiring because I feel like sometimes you can feel kind of alone in your struggles and in all the advocacy you do,” Hana’ Maaiah with the Palestinian Rights Committee shared. “When you come out and you see like,30 plus different booths, people who all just care for social change, care to create a better world,  it’s really inspiring andthere are some dope organizations out here as well.

“So much about how we create social change, and the thing that I keep running into with collective and community organizing, is that we’re all going to be stronger if we’re able to build community, build relationships with each other, and then if we all can organize towards causes or towards common goals and values that we want to see in our neighborhoods.

“I think when we talk about these larger systems that we want to change or we want to see abolished or created, we need to do it at a community level, first and foremost.”

While the event was centered around celebrating abolition and the freedom of African Americans, there were people of all ages, races, genders and identities at the event ready to take the park and celebrate.

“I think that Saratoga BLM is building something that people really underestimate,” Brown shared. “We’re building a mass coalition that transcends. We’re bringing white people, black people, old people, young people – and if anyone wants to come down to hang out with us t they can follow us on Instagram to see what’s coming next.”