Lyft is proud to celebrate Juneteenth–the day Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas– and informed 250,000 enslaved Black individuals of their freedom. Since the first Juneteenth celebration in 1866, the day has become a critically important historical marker and clarion call for freedom in the United States and around the world. 

As we celebrate Juneteenth at Lyft, we also recognize the enduring legacy of slavery and the institutions, structures, and systems created in its wake. These systems continue to impede racial equity for Black Americans to this day. More than 150 years later, the work to achieve racial equity continues. Lyft will continue to play our part in breaking down these systems and increasing access to opportunity through transportation.

This year, Lyft will observe Juneteenth by amplifying and supporting community events around the country, events that both acknowledge the dark chapter of slavery in our country’s history and celebrate the resilience of Black Americans. Lyft is providing ride codes to help local community members travel to and attend events across the country over the weekend. Some of these events include:

Juneteenth Foundation: Juneteenth Freedom Festival - Washington, DC (June 17-19, 2022)

The Juneteenth Foundation was a leading voice in the successful campaign to designate Juneteenth as a federal holiday. We are honored to sponsor the Juneteenth Freedom Festival - a four-day celebration of Black history, culture, and freedom for the second consecutive year. To attend the Community Block Party on June 17,  local community members can use ride code “JUNETEENTHBP”. You can learn more about the Juneteenth Foundation and the Freedom Festival.

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello–Ascendant: The Power of Descendant Communities to Shape Our Past, Present and Future - Charlottesville, VA (June 18, 2022)

We are honored to support the programming in remembrance of the over 400 individuals and their ancestors enslaved by Thomas Jefferson. The descendants of these enslaved individuals will be sharing their stories and the legacy of slavery at Monticello.  On Saturday, June 18, local community members can use ride code “ASCENDANT22” to attend a series of musical performances and discussions with descendants and speakers including Ava DuVernay, Wynton Marsalis, and others. You can register, view the livestream, and learn more about the public event and about the legacy of slavery at Monticello. 

BikePortland: Black Liberation Ride - Portland, OR (Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 3PM)

We believe transportation is key to building and connecting communities, and we are excited to support Portland's 7th annual Black Liberation Ride for the fourth year in a row. This annual event is a grassroots-led community bike ride through the city’s historically Black neighborhoods in Northeast Portland. BIKETOWN riders can use code “BLR22”. Learn more about the organizers of BikePortland and this year’s Black Liberation Ride. 

Social Change Chicago: Pre Juneteenth Celebration - Chicago, Illinois (June 18, 2022)

We are also excited to join several local partners such as Social Change Chicago and the DuSable Museum of African American History in organizing to advance health equity and criminal justice reform.  Learn more about the Pre Juneteenth Celebration and how to access rides at Social Change Chicago. 

We are also proud to partner with Marco Cheatham, who we commissioned to develop original artwork that embodies the celebration of Black communities as we commemorate Juneteenth. The illustrations titled, All Together Now, will be shared as a way to get the word out that local community members in select cities across the country, can access free or discounted rideshare and bike rides from Lyft to travel to and attend Juneteenth celebrations and events this weekend.

“I want these illustrations to help people connect and get excited about celebrating a holiday that we all deserve to relish and have only recently gotten true recognition for. It’s an important day, but also a joyous one. I hope people feel that joy in this piece,” said Marco Cheatham. 

We encourage all members of the Lyft community to use this year’s Juneteenth as an opportunity to reflect, to celebrate, and to recommit ourselves to the cause of universal freedom and justice for all.