Pathways in Technology Early College High School

Opal Lee is an American retired teacher, counselor, and activist widely celebrated as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth". She was instrumental in the successful movement to make Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday in the United States.

The Historic Walking Campaign

The Spark: In 2016, at the age of 89, Ms. Opal launched a symbolic walking campaign to bring national attention to Juneteenth.

The Distance: She planned to walk 1,400 miles from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C..

The Ritual: In cities along her route, she walked exactly 2.5 miles. This distance symbolized the 2.5 years it took for news of the Emancipation Proclamation to finally reach and free enslaved people in Texas.

The Petition: Alongside her walks, she managed an online petition via

⁠Opal's Walk for Freedom that amassed over 1.6 million signatures.

Achieving Federal Recognition

Her decades of grassroots activism culminated on June 17, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. This officially designated June 19 as the 11th U.S. federal holiday. Ms. Opal was an honored guest at the White House signing ceremony, where she received a standing ovation.

Background and Distinctions

Early Catalyst: Her devotion to the holiday is deeply personal. On June 19, 1939, when she was 12 years old, a white mob rioted and burned down her family's home in Fort Worth. She turned that trauma into a lifetime commitment to justice.

Highest Civilian Honor: In May 2024, President Biden presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Other Accolades: She was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, became the second African American to have a portrait displayed in the Texas State Senate, and was honored with her own official Barbie doll.

Children's Author: She wrote and updated

⁠Juneteenth: A Children's Story to educate future generations about the history of freedom.

First-Ever New York Knicks Ticker-Tape Parade

While the franchise won championships in 1970 and 1973, this was the first ticker-tape parade in Knicks history. Neither of the 1970s titles were celebrated with a march down the Canyon of Heroes.

Today, Thursday, June 18, 2026, the eve of Juneteenth, millions of ecstatic fans flooded lower Manhattan as the New York Knicks were honored with a historic ticker-tape parade to celebrate their 2026 NBA Finals Championship.

The victory ended an agonizing 53-year title drought, marking the franchise's third championship and cementing the 2025–26 squad alongside the legendary 1970 and 1973 title teams. Guided by head coach Mike Brown, the Knicks clinched the Larry O'Brien Trophy by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 4 games to 1 in the Finals.

The Finals MVP: Superstar guard Jalen Brunson captured the Bill Russell Finals MVP award, punctuating the series with a historic, 45-point masterclass in the Game 5 closeout at San Antonio's Frost Bank Center.

The Supporting Core: The championship was anchored by a resilient roster featuring blockbuster trade acquisition Karl-Anthony Towns, lockdown wing OG Anunoby, and the tireless contributions of Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges.

The Twin Trophies: With this win, the 2026 Knicks became the first team in NBA history to complete the elusive "Basketball Double" by winning both the Emirates NBA Cup and the NBA Finals Championship in the exact same season.