A community in Huntersville, North Carolina is outraged this week after an event scheduled to be held on a plantation on Juneteenth, the day that commemorates the end of slavery in the US, turned out to be an occasion to whitewash the horrors of the past. 

“White refugees have been displaced and have a story to tell as well,” the Historic Latta Plantation event stated in its description, according to The Washington Post. 

The event's social media page, which is now deleted, also stated that guests would "hear stories from the massa himself who is now living in the woods."

Outraged residents in Huntersville turned up in large numbers on social media to express their anger, forcing organizers to cancel the event.

"It hurt. We understand the history of what Juneteenth is, is something that we now celebrate, but also it’s rooted in pain," resident Hannah Hasan told WCNC.

In a statement on Twitter on Friday, Mecklenburg County officials said they weren't aware of the event.

"Mecklenburg County has zero tolerance for programs that do not embrace equity and diversity," officials stated. "Park and Recreation was not aware of the planned event Latta Nature Preserve until it appeared on social media. We immediately reached out to the organizers and the event was canceled. As a result of this incident, Mecklenburg County is looking at its contract with the facility vendor regarding future programming."

Ryan Pitkin, a journalist in Charlotte, North Carolina, shared screenshots of the now deleted event page.

"Confederate soldiers who will be heading home express their feelings about the downfall of the Confederacy," the organizers stated while inviting the community to attend the one-night event on June 19.

Social media users also posted screenshots of the Latta Plantation website, which offers opportunities to learn about the Civil War and promises to teach about the lives of the Northern and Southern soldiers from a "viewpoint that neither favors nor discredits."

According to Pitkin, Huntersville issued a statement, saying "funding for Latta Plantation in the next fiscal year will be put on hold pending further investigation."

The residents are now demanding for the organizers to be held responsible.

Some simply felt compelled to throw out some expletives when they saw the event.

Outraged social media users also pointed to other similar instances of racism happening around the country.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles posted on Twitter to condemn the event. Lyles also reflected on the purpose of Juneteenth.

"On June 19, 1865, known as Juneteenth, 250,000 enslaved Black people were declared free be executive decree," the mayor wrote. "That day should be celebrated and honored in the most humble way possible, with laser focus on the perspective of the inhumane treatment of an enslaved people."

People of various backgrounds echoed the mayor's statement.

“A terrible example of white supremacy," Huntersville resident Monica Raab told WCNC. "I was lost for words that someone would think this is a good idea.”

Historic Latta PlantationjuneteenthNorth-Carolinaplantationsracist event