2026 Black History Month Events
Celebrate Black History Month with events across the state!
Celebrate Juneteenth Across Washington State
This Thursday, June 19, we celebrate and honor Juneteenth – the day freedom finally reached all enslaved people in the United States. Juneteenth is a powerful reminder of resilience, a demand for justice, and the ongoing fight for equity for all.
Black History Month: From 1857 to 2025 – The Battle for Birthright Citizenship
Two moments in American history, separated by 168 years, show how Black Americans' struggle for citizenship rights has shaped our nation's most fundamental constitutional principles. In 1857, four years before the Civil War, the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision ruled that no person of African descent – whether free or enslaved – could be a […]
A mother fights for justice in wake of racist attacks
A Black 8th grader in Vancouver was violently attacked at school by a student who had earlier harassed him with racial slurs. Although administrators had been warned the attack was coming they did nothing to protect him. Instead, the school suspended and then expelled him. After a years-long fight, NJP gathered the evidence to win a settlement that cleared his record and included money and staff training.
Advocacy Update: Student Discipline Rules Changed Statewide
Earlier this year, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) issued Emergency Rules regarding student discipline without affording input from family advocates, students or parents. The changes in discipline regulations included: Removing the requirement that schools consider alternative forms of discipline thatJayleen support students in meeting behavioral expectation BEFORE excluding them from classrooms An […]
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Celebrate Native American Heritage Month
During National Native American Heritage Month in November we celebrate and honor the vibrant cultures of Native people in Washington state and beyond. While acknowledging past and present injustices and standing in solidarity with Indigenous peoples' pursuit of justice, we join in celebration of their diverse cultures, sovereign identities, and vital presence that weaves beauty, wisdom, and strength into the fabric of society.
This month offers many opportunities to celebrate Native cultures by attending Indigenous events, supporting Native artists, and learning about the Washington’s many tribal communities. Here are just a few: