Hundreds turned out for Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s community inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn on Sunday.
The event included multiple musical performances and a host of speakers, including rapper Mistah F.A.B., City Council President Kevin Jenkins, State Senator Jesse Arreguín, Town Fare Chef Michele McQueen and many others.
The mayor, flanked by two of her granddaughters, was sworn in by Rep. Lateefah Simon, who was elected to fill Lee’s former seat in Congress. Lee placed her hand on her grandfather’s Bible as she took the oath of office. Her grandfather was born in Texas in 1867, two years after the end of slavery.
“As an Oakland resident of over 27 years, I am hopeful about this new chapter in our city, one that will be remembered as an era of progress, hope and opportunity,” said Yvonne Hudson-Harmon, Chair of the Oakland Inaugural Committee 2025. “Oaklanders from all over the city are invited to take part in moving our city forward through our Saturday Day of Service and contributing toward our economic health by patronizing our waterfront small businesses.”
Lee promised to lead with “openness, honesty and relentless effort” and invited the community to help her improve the city.
“If we match hope with hard work, there’s nothing that this city can’t do, so let’s do it,” Lee said. “Let’s grab whatever you can grab, a paintbrush, a policy idea, a neighbor’s hand, because the next chapter of Oakland starts now.”
People listen to speakers during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee places her hand on her grandfather’s bible as she’s sworn in by Congresswoman Lateefah Simon as her granddaughters look on during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Her grandfather was born in Texas in 1867, two years after the end of slavery. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland City Councilmembers Kevin Jenkins, Carroll Fife, Charlene Wang, former member Rebecca Kaplan, Ken Houston, City Attorney Ryan Richardson and Councilmember Janani Ramachandran, from right, applaud during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie heads to his seat during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Audience members applaud during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee speaks during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. The former congresswoman was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Members of Mayor Barbara Lee’s family listen to her speech during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. The former congresswoman was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Aztec dancers perform a four-direction ritual during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee sits between her sons Craig Lee, left, and Tony Lee, right, during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. The former congresswoman was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Former interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins speaks during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) People listen during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Musical artist Kev Choice during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Chinese Lion Dancers perform during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s sons Craig Lee and Tony Lee, from left, acknowledge the crowd as she introduces them during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. The former congresswoman was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) A branded megaphone on stage during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) California Attorney General Rob Bonta and his wife and District 18 Assemblymember Mia Bonta, to his left, applaud during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Congresswoman Lateefah Simon speaks during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) People listen to speakers during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Rapper and activist Mistah F.A.B. speaks during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee speaks during the Mayoral Community Inauguration at Jack London Square’s Ferry Lawn in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 8, 2025. The former congresswoman was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Oakland. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
