Four years after his death, Bend community set to dedicate downtown memorial for Barry Washington Jr.

BEND, Ore. — A memorial dedication ceremony will take place Saturday in downtown Bend to honor Barry Washington Jr., the young man who was shot and killed outside a downtown bar in 2021.

The event will run from 1 to 3 p.m. at the corner of Wall Street and Oregon Avenue, near the site where Washington was killed. City officials say part of the street will be closed from noon to 4 p.m. for the ceremony.

Washington’s mother and other family members are expected to speak, along with Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler.

The memorial project was fully crowd-funded by community members and did not use taxpayer money. It was approved by the City of Bend under its “Memorials and Monuments in Public Rights of Way” program.

Washington’s killing drew widespread attention in 2020 and led to conversations about race, community safety, and justice in Central Oregon. The new memorial aims to recognize his life and the impact his story has had on the community.