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Residents and physicians press Yamhill County commissioners to acknowledge local racism
Summary
Multiple residents and remote commenters urged Yamhill County commissioners to recognize documented instances of racial harassment in schools and the community and to adopt measurable accountability; speakers said denial discourages reporting and harms marginalized residents.
Dozens of residents and two remote commenters told the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners on June 25 that racism is a documented problem in the county and that elected leaders must acknowledge it and adopt measurable remedies.
At the start of the meeting, John, a Newberg resident, described repeated racial harassment, threats while driving and long-standing mistrust of authorities. “All I'm asking for is change,” he said, urging commissioners to take complaints seriously.
Lisha Adams, who identified herself as a Newberg resident with deep local ties, said her family moved decisions were shaped by local racial dynamics and that she kept her son out of some schools because of safety concerns. “We need to change our hearts. We need to change the system,” Adams said, asking commissioners to consider how their words from the dais impact minority residents and students.
Elaine Paskela, a longtime school employee, urged nuance in the public debate but warned that denial allows harmful conduct to continue. “There is real danger in ignoring racism,” she said, and asked the board to listen to local stories and to engage in sustained conversation.
Tracy Moon, who described legal findings and jury verdicts in discrimination cases involving local institutions, called for transparent tracking of bias incidents and “measurable structural accountability” from county leadership.
Remote commenters included Dr. Gabriel Kleinman, a physician anesthesiologist at OHSU, who criticized past public statements by a county official about Dr. King and civil-rights figures and asked that official to answer whether those remarks reflect current views. Jesse Ferris Cunningham, another remote speaker, urged commissioners to listen before defending local reputation, saying “When someone responds to ‘racism exists here’ as though it means everyone here is racist, the conversation shifts away from the harm being named.”
Board members responded that the county has previously recognized Juneteenth as a paid holiday and noted local programs and outreach. A commissioner recounted a recent apology-and-reconciliation example in the community and said many residents had shared experiences of racism during private meetings with staff. Commissioners did not take formal action during the public-comment period; the board chair and Commissioner King encouraged ongoing dialogue and invited further written submissions.
The comment period closed with commissioners saying they would continue to meet with residents and consider follow-up steps. No formal vote or policy change was adopted at the June 25 meeting on this topic.
