WASHINGTON — On Saturday, D.C. is celebrating 156 years since the D.C. Compensated Emancipation Act, which ended slavery in the District. A parade and concert made its way through downtown D.C. and some roads that were closed to make room for the event have started to reopen after 3 p.m.
A concert featuring Brandy, Angie Stone, Big Daddy Kane, Allure, Ayre Rayde, Rare Essence and more kicked off in Freedom Plaza at 3 p.m. It is expected to end at 8:30 p.m.
D.C. police have closed the following streets from 7 a.m. Friday to 12 a.m. Sunday for the concert:
- E Street, NW from 13th Street, NW to 14th Street, NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue, NW from 12th Street, NW to 14th Street, NW
- 13th Street, NW from E Street, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Any vehicles parked along the route and that violate the parking signs will be ticketed and towed.
A parade on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, between 10th Street and 14th Street Northwest took place from 2 p.m to 3 p.m.
- 10th Street, NW between E Street, NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW were closed from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the parade staging area.
The following street closures began to reopen after 3 p.m.
- Pennsylvania Avenue, NW from 9th Street, NW to 14th Street, NW
- 10th Street, NW between E Street, NW and Constitution Avenue, NW
- 11th Street, NW between E Street, NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 12th Street, NW between E Street, NW and Constitution Avenue, NW
- 13th Street, NW from E Street, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- E Street, NW between 13th Street, NW and 14th Street, NW
The 1862 act freed 3,100 people, offered them money to emigrate and reimbursed those who had legally owned slaves, according to DC.gov.
