Celebrating Juneteenth in Portland!

News Article
A mural on the outside of a building showing Black people being enslaved, portraits of Harriet Tubman and Abraham Lincoln, Black soldiers in Union uniforms, a march for equal rights, and an astronaut. The words Absolute Equality are underneath next to an eagle and a banner saying 1865.
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Juneteenth is an annual holiday celebrating the day – June 19, 1865 – when the United States Army arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people there were finally freed. The Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect nearly three years earlier, but many enslavers had defied that order and fled to Texas to try and keep people enslaved. Today, the holiday is often celebrated with parades, Miss Juneteenth contests, performances by Black and African American artists, traditional or culturally-important foods, and taking time to reflect on the meaning of freedom.

On Saturday, June 18, check out the Freadom Festival at Peninsula Park from noon to 6 p.m. This is a free event for all to learn about the importance of Juneteenth, build community with fellow book lovers, support Black businesses, receive educational resources, and celebrate literacy and liberation! Activities will include a book swap, readings by local Black authors, a kids’ story time, a book drive, a zine crafting station, raffles and giveaways, and more!

The Freadom Festival is hosted by Prose Before Bros, a social book club prioritizing space for Women of Color to be seen and heard. Third Eye Books, a local Black- and woman-owned bookstore, is one of the many partners for this event. Find and support Black-owned businesses in Portland.

Find more Juneteenth events and celebrations, and check out the City African American Network’s celebration on Friday, June 17, from noon to 6 p.m. at Patton Square Park!

Watch Portland City Council's Juneteenth proclamation.