Cincinnati is the first city in Ohio selected to host the walk, which will be incorporated into the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center’s Juneteenth programming.
“We are thrilled that Cincinnati is a host city for the 2026 National Opal’s Walk for Freedom,” said Woody Keown, president and COO of the Freedom Center. “Incorporating the walk into our annual Juneteenth festivities is an ideal way to activate our region and unite our communities around reflection, remembrance and action.”
While many Black Americans across generations grew up learning the story of Juneteenth, Dr. Lee spent decades advocating for broader recognition of its significance. In her late 80s, she began walking 2.5 miles each Juneteenth in cities across the United States — totaling more than 1,400 miles — to raise awareness. At age 89, she completed a symbolic five‑month walk from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C.
Dr. Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth
“When I began walking, it was to remind people that freedom was delayed—but never denied,” Lee said in a press release from Unity Unlimited. “Walking together reminds us that justice requires action.”
Largely through Dr. Lee’s efforts, Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden in 2024 and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. She is the second African American to have her portrait displayed in the Texas State Senate and was honored in fall 2025 by the Freedom Center as an International Freedom Conductor.
“Dr. Lee’s lifelong mission to unite America around truth and justice has made her a living symbol of our shared values of courage, cooperation, and perseverance,” Keown said.
In addition to Cincinnati, 2026 host cities include Los Angeles; Birmingham, Alabama; Honolulu; Evanston, Illinois; Detroit; Grants Pass, Oregon; and St. Paul, Minnesota, along with flagship walks in Fort Worth, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Unity Unlimited’s long‑term goal is to host an Opal’s Walk for Freedom in every state by 2030. A virtual walk option will allow participants around the world to join.
“Opal’s Walk for Freedom is a national act of remembrance and responsibility,” said Dione Sims, founder and CEO of Unity Unlimited. “Walking together reinforces our shared commitment to justice and unity.”
The walk is supported by national and local partners, including Start 2 Finish Event Management, Detroit Choice Events, JARK 1 Entertainment, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Organizations interested in becoming local sponsors of the Cincinnati Opal’s Walk for Freedom may contact philanthropy@nurfc.org.
The Freedom Center invites the Cincinnati community and out-of-town visitors to join the walk on June 19 to reflect, remember and celebrate freedom together.