Salem-Keizer Public Schools
Honoring Juneteenth in Salem-Keizer
![Juneteenth Freedom Day, In honor of Juneteenth, all Salem-Keizer Public Schools and district offices are closed on Wednesday, June 19.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1718752872/salkeizk12orus/r12oaqpojzuxatk0voxh/Juneteenth-1200x675.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1718752872/salkeizk12orus/r12oaqpojzuxatk0voxh/Juneteenth-1200x675.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1718752872/salkeizk12orus/r12oaqpojzuxatk0voxh/Juneteenth-1200x675.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1718752872/salkeizk12orus/r12oaqpojzuxatk0voxh/Juneteenth-1200x675.jpg","width":1200}])
Salem-Keizer Public Schools invites everyone to stand together in honor of the now federally-recognized holiday Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day. This important day in history commemorates the true emancipation of enslaved Africans on June 19, 1865. The emancipation of African people came more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation issued on January 1, 1863. When Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas on June 19, 1865, they announced that the thousands of enslaved Africans in the state were free.
Juneteenth is a reminder of the painful history that plagued our country then and, at times, finds its way into our society even today. We at Salem-Keizer Public Schools stand with all of our African American and Black families, honoring the contributions made in our schools and communities.
In honor of Juneteenth, all Salem-Keizer Public Schools and District Offices are closed today, Wednesday, June 19.
Learn More About Juneteenth on Wikipedia
Ways to Honor in Our Community
Salem-Keizer NAACP, Juneteenth Block Party
The community is invited to a block party held by the Salem-Keizer NAACP to celebrate Juneteenth on Wednesday, June 19, from 1 to 3 p.m.
The block party will be held on Cottage Street, just north of the Micah building at 680 State Street, in downtown Salem.
There will be food, music and an inspirational speaker, Dr. Johnny Lake. Dr. Lake's work focuses on the influence of diversity, race and culture on student academic achievement and business performance.
The event is FREE and open to the public.
Willamette Heritage Center, Juneteenth Community History Walk
The Willamette Heritage Center, Oregon Black Pioneers and Just Walk Salem Keizer host an annual community history walking tour to celebrate the Juneteenth Holiday. The vision for this event, which started in 2023, was to bring people together to walk as a community and follow in the footsteps of local families whose lives were impacted by slavery and emancipation.
Learn More About the Community History Walk on the Willamette Heritage Web Site