Decemeber 22, 2021
Page 2
2021 Year in Review
Elevating Justice in
Portland
Biden-Harris Era Begins
Jan. 27 – The inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris makes history. Harris becomes the first female
and first black person to hold the office, breaking from more than 200 years of U.S. history, and follows this historic election of former
President Obama as the first Black president.
Feb. 10 – Multnomah County District At-
torney Mike Schmidt, in his first year in of-
fice after being elected on a platform to ad-
dress racial disparities in prosecutions and
police accountability, defends new policies
promoting fairness and equity.
Mask Up Portland!
Mass COVID-19 Vaccinations
March 10 – Damian Lillard is depicted in a new Portland mural reminding people to
wear masks in solidarity against the coronavirus. The artwork at Northeast 28th and Al-
berta was created by Portland artist and muralist Kyle Holbrook who poses for the Port-
land Observer in front of his creation..
March 24 -- The Oregon Convention Center is turned into a temporary mass COVID-19
vaccination clinic, opening 7 days a week and seeing more than 5,200 patients each day
as four Portland healthcare systems, Kaiser , Legacy, OHSU and Providence combine
forces to distribute the shots and protect lives..
Journeys to Justice
Violent Response to Police
April 7 – The experiences of being Black, not only from the point of view of trauma, but
also in celebration of the culture and rich contributions to our society, comes to life in new
Portland Opera production led by two members of Portland’s black community, Portland
Opera’s Damien Geter and Chip Miller of Portland Center Stage.
April 21 – Windows were smashed at the Blazers Boys and Girls Club and several busi-
nesses along Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard during a protest against the
police. It followed the death of a man who was shot at Lents Park.