CHICAGO, Illinois — The Honorable Michael C. Fountain, Bahamas Honorary Consul to Chicago, commemorated the 48th Anniversary of Bahamian Independence with an historic and unprecedented flag-raising ceremony held at the Richard J. Daley Center Plaza in downtown Chicago on Friday, July 9, 2021.
Local Bahamians, elected officials, friends and supporters who joined in the celebration including: the Honorable William Davis, Illinois State Representative (D-30th); the Honorable Iris Martinez, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County; the Honorable Phumzile Mazibuko, Consul General of the Republic of South Africa to Chicago; the Honorable Richard Reinbold, President, Village of Richton Park; Mr. David Day, Chief Operations Officer, Rainbow PUSH Coalition; Ms. Perri Irmer, President and CEO, DuSable Museum of African American History; Dr. Steve Kessel, Director of Marine Research, Shedd Aquarium; and Ms. Nubia Willman, Director of the Mayor’s Office of New Americans.
Under the theme, “A Celebration of Life: Revive Us Again,” Honorary Consul Fountain brought remarks at this fourth raising of the Bahamas flag in his jurisdiction. He provided a brief history of Bahamian Independence from the morning of the first ceremony and the immediate impact of sovereign statehood on the country, to the interconnectedness of the modern challenges Bahamians face the world over.
The Bahamas flag — an international symbol of the unity, stability and strength of the Bahamian people — was then ceremonially raised for the first time within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago.
The Daley Center, originally known as the Chicago Civic Center, is the premier civic center of the City of Chicago. Daley Plaza offers free cultural programming under the world-renowned Picasso sculpture, including flag raisings and cultural ceremonies.
The celebrations continued on Saturday, July 10, when Honorary Consul Fountain joined Bahamians living in the Chicago area at the annual Bahamas Association Independence Picnic at Foster Beach.
The Bahamas Consulate Chicago helped sponsor the participation of the Baha-Nation Junkanoo Group at the picnic, which is always held the second Saturday in July and has been a cornerstone event for local Bahamians in and around the city for decades.
