It was about 100 years ago that the Ku Klux Klan reached the zenith of its power in Oregon. Key figures in society and government either openly embraced the Klan or were members of it.
We'd like to tell you that racism in Oregon ended shortly after that, but you know that is not the truth. The Oregon Remembrance Projectworks to remind the state of its racist past, with an eye toward improvement and reconciliation. And there's a particular focus on telling the story of Grants Pass, known for decades as a "sundown town," where Black people were advised to be out of town by sundown.
Gabi Johnsen and Taylor Stewart are key players in the effort, and in observing the coming birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Grants Pass. They visit the JX to talk about the work.