The annual National Freedom Day observance at Sterling United Methodist Church on Feb. 1, 2026, honored both the signing of the 13th Amendment and the legacy of the Black History Month Observance established in 1965. The BHM Observance was created by Dr. Robert Starling Pritchard, not only upon its Panafricanist orientation, but also as an Observance to which Americans of African descent welcomed the participation of their fellow Americans of all colours, creeds, cultures, national origins and socio-economic conditions. education, reflection and recognition of African American history and achievement.
Beth Akiyama, Director of Youth for Human Rights DC; Steve Williams, President of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation; Dr. Faye Williams, United Nations Peace Ambassador and Rev. Bert Cloud, Pastor of the Sterling United Methodist Church.
The event began with the ringing of the church bell 13 times, commemorating President Abraham Lincoln signing the 13th Amendment on Feb. 1, 1865, after its passage by Congress to abolish slavery. National Freedom Day was later established in 1948 to honor the historic signing and its enduring significance in American history.
The program, hosted by Steve Williams, President of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, featured keynote remarks from Dr. E. Faye Williams, an attorney, author and human rights activist, along with a presentation on the lasting importance of the 13th Amendment by Jaxon Roberts, a student at J.L. Simpson Middle School.
Williams warned that many of the freedoms Americans have fought to secure over the past two centuries are now facing new challenges.
“Right now, some of us are feeling today like our freedom is being infringed upon, and it doesn’t matter what color you are, what your religion is, or what have you,” she said. “If you want to be honest with yourself, you know things ain’t right right now, and that we have a lot of work to do, and we can’t sit around and allow other people to do everything.”
Dr. Williams said the United States has long served as a symbol of freedom for people around the world, but that many are now questioning the nation’s direction.
“There are people who are feeling sorry for us because they know how good America has been, and they want us to go back to it. They’re feeling fearful to have American involvement and some of the things that are going on now. And that’s not a good feeling if you are American, is it?” Williams said. “We want to be supportive of bringing back our freedom. We never thought that the day would come when we would actually see a diminishing of the rights that some people worked so hard for.”
Dr. Williams encouraged attendees to confront what she described as a growing “meanness of spirit” in society.
“We must be that example to show that we care not only about ourselves and our families, but about our neighbors and our friends. That’s the way we’re going to get our freedom back,” she said.
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