{Oregon City, Ore.} {June 6, 2024}—  The City of Oregon City will commemorate Juneteenth with an event created to celebrate local ties with the Black and Indigenous communities and to come together as a community united against racism that is working towards inclusion and belonging for all. 

The celebratory event will be held in Library Park at 606 John Adams St., Oregon City on Saturday, June 15, from 2 to 5 p.m. and will include speakers, music, poetry, vendors, community information and free refreshments. 

Vendor tables will include a combination of arts and crafts and community information/resources and may be subject to change. For entertainment and vendor information, visit go.lincc.org/ocjuneteenth. 

The Celebration will begin promptly at 2 p.m. with opening remarks by Oregon City Mayor, Denyse McGriff, a reading of an excerpt from the Emancipation Proclamation by Gavin Blackwell, and the singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Avon Rae.

The Juneteenth Celebration will also feature the culminating event of the Oregon City Public Library's “One Community One Book” program, "From Black Exclusion Laws to Inclusive Communities", a panel discussion where participants will share their perspectives on history, racism, and belonging. 

The conversation will take place at the Pioneer Community Center, 615 5^th St., Oregon City from 3 to 4 p.m. and is scheduled to feature State Representative, House District 40, Annessa Hartman, Mayor McGriff, Oregon Black Pioneers Board of Directors' President Kimberly Moreland, The Place We Make author Sarah L. Sanderson and Founder/Director of the Oregon Remembrance Project Taylor Stewart. 

Both the Library and Spraypark will be open during the event.