Five things you may have missed this week | City News

Here are five stories you may have missed this week.

Hundreds gather in downtown Athens for the nationwide ‘No Kings’ protest

On Saturday, June 14, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in downtown

Athens at College Square as part of the “No Kings” protests that occurred in cities all across the country.

The protest saw many demonstrators with signs reading “No Kings” and “Abolish ICE” with many chanting “No kings, no clowns” and “USA”.

Several speakers such as author and politician, Michael Thurmond, spoke to the large crowd. 

Read more about the ‘No Kings’ protest here.

25th Hot Corner Festival celebrates a legacy of Black excellence

On Saturday, June 14, the 25th annual Hot Corner Festival happened in downtown Athens at the intersection of Hull Street and West Washington Street.

The event saw the block filled with food vendors, small businesses and information booths. 

“The importance of events like Hot Corner that celebrate Black business, that speak to not only [Black] excellence, but how we made it over, how we have overcome racism and the erasure of these businesses,” poet laureate Mikhayla Robins Smith said. “It is significant to me to be able to tell that story and be here. I am because they are.”

Read more about the Hot Corner Festival here.

Q&A: Olu Brown has a new vision for Georgia

Author, small business owner and faith leader Olu Brown is running for governor of Georgia. He had a sit down with The Red & Black to discuss his campaign and vision for Georgia.

“If you can give voters a picture of the future that involves them, their health, their welfare, their children, their grandchildren, their jobs and paint that picture, people will take any mountain with you. That’s what I bring to the table,” Brown said.

Read more about the Q&A here.

Athens welcomes Caribou Coffee with ribbon cutting

On a cloudy Friday morning, attendees excitedly lined up at the Caribou Coffee pick-up area. With no inside seating, the coffee shop allows customers to pick up their coffee in an outdoor line. Located on 2198 W. Broad St., Caribou Coffee is ready for business.

The coffee shop, which opened its first location in 1992 and is now a global chain, opened its doors in Athens this week. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Friday, June 13, at 10 a.m. by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. Attendees were given the option to spin a wheel to win prizes such as lanyards, air fresheners and tote bags.

Read more about the ribbon cutting here.

Juneteenth flag raising celebrates Black liberation

Athenians of all ages gathered together for the Juneteenth flag raising on Saturday, June 14, in front of City Hall. Hosted by the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement, the flag raising is a community celebration commemorating Black liberation and the legacy of Emancipation.

“In honor of the 5,000 slaves freed by the union soldiers in Athens-Clarke County, we will hoist the Juneteenth flag. We shall remind the nation that Juneteenth is a day of emancipation, a day of celebration in honor of Black liberation,” Mokah Jasmine Johnson, co-founder and executive director of AADM, said.

Read more about the flag raising here.