Three Salem students will read their winning essays about the Juneteenth holiday at a Salem-Keizer NAACP celebration Friday evening.
The NAACP is hosting a virtual event to celebrate the June 19 holiday, which commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. The Oregon Legislature passed a law this year declaring Juneteenth a state holiday.
At 6 p.m. Friday, NAACP President Reginald Richardson and education chair Irvin Brown will speak about Juneteenth. Secretary Tori Algee will introduce three students who won the chapter’s essay contest by writing about why the holiday is important.
The students are:
-Dara Elkanah, South Salem High School
-Kevin Alamo Valdes, Waldo Middle School
-Ariel Mee, Pringle Elementary School
More information and a link to the event is available on the event Facebook page.
