Rallies celebrate Juneteenth around the U.S.

A participant wears an "I Can't Breath" mask as she attends the Juneteenth rally at the MLK memorial. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Officials expected thousands of protesters at a pair of planned rallies and spontaneous marches in the national capital beginning Friday and lasting through the weekend. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Participants hold signs at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Washington Wizards' Bradley Beal (L) and Washington Mystics Natasha Cloud participate in the D.C. rally. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

The march routes will take protesters through historically black neighborhoods and past the White House and national monuments. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Nurses and healthcare workers at Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center stage a "Juneteenth action" to peacefully protest the lack of police accountability and demand justice for local communities and an end to systemic racism in Los Angeles on Friday. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI