US: Chicago marchers say Juneteenth represents hope

Thousands gathered for a Juneteenth march and rally in downtown Chicago to commemorate the holiday traditionally celebrated to mark the end of slavery in the United States.

The focus this year was on police reform and equity in Black communities amid civil unrest across the country after the May 25 killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck.

Juanna Blackwell, a Chicago resident attending the march and rally with her family, is optimistic.

"I do feel like there is a change now.  I have, in my lifetime, I've never seen a movement like this. I mean, we watched Black men being killed. We watch Black women being killed. And there's always been protests. But this is the first time that I've seen this sustained level of protest," said Blackwell.