“Juneteenth is all about understanding where we come from and where we need to go,” Gov. Tina Kotek told a crowd of 25 eager listeners at the Oregon Capitol Mall.
Kotek spoke as part of Salem’s first annual Juneteenth block party, a day of games, music, food, vendors and performances organized by local nonprofit Equity Splash.
The celebration Monday marks 158 years since the commemoration by Major General Gordon Granger, declaring liberation for enslaved individuals in the South on June 19, 1865, two years after President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
The small, but energetic crowd of closely connected community members spent time grooving to the booming music, enjoying the plethora of food options, tossing the corn hole, and appreciating each other’s company. Several dozen kids ran around in the field, jumped in the bouncy house, and shared home baked treats.
“The fact that the governor came out today meant a lot because equity is all about uplifting,” said Satya Chandargiri, a Salem-Keizer School Board director and Equity Splash organizer.
Event organizer Oni Marchbanks was pleased with how the block party came together.
“There’s high energy and good music, what more could you want,” Marchbanks said.
Tricarico Schwartz, secretary of Equity Splash, spent about 10 hours last night collaborating with a group to bake an array of celebratory cookies.
The treats were shaped into letters spelling out “BLM” and “Juneteenth,” decorated with vibrant stripes, sprinkles, and googly eyes, as well as various Pride flags.
“We hope to make the message queer inclusive,” Schwartz said “It’s special to see so much of my chosen family out here today.”
Most of the sponsors from the event were representatives from Equity Splash, which is dedicated to breaking down barriers for youth in the classrooms.
They use project-based learning to get kids to feel more comfortable in especially science and technology-related fields, where Black and brown individuals remain underrepresented.
Organizations including Enlightened Theatrics, Marion Polk Food Share and the Kroc Center had booths at the event.
Attendees Lori Cole and Chris Clark brought some watermelon and potato salad to the block party. They both heard about this event through the First United Methodist Church of Salem’s weekly group meetings on Educating Ourselves about Race and Racism.
“Ever since George Floyd died, we have been going to these meetings to try and better educate ourselves,” Cole said.
Marchbanks wants to see the event continue to grow each year “until the whole lawn is full.”
Contact reporter Natalie Sharp: [email protected] or 503-522-6493.
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Natalie Sharp is an Oregon State University student working as a reporter for Salem Reporter in summer 2023. She is part of the Snowden internship program at the University of Oregon's School of Communication and Journalism.
