Portland Demands Police Accountability!

Ted Wheeler, Mayor of Portland and Police Commissioner

Dear Mayor Wheeler,

We write today as people of faith and people of good will, directed and inspired by our diverse traditions, and united around shared values to confront injustice.

We are committed to anti-racism work in our community, and the threat that White Nationalism poses to the safety of all who call Oregon home requires us to speak at this moment.

Many of us have participated in counter rallies when organized hate groups like Patriot Prayer and other White Nationalists have come to Portland looking to terrorize our community.  

We have seen some practices by the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) that increased safety on certain occasions, but we have also borne witness to police actions that cause us grave concern. These include PPB’s decision to use excessive force against peaceful protesters to enforce disperse orders, and surveilling activists.

We have been very concerned to learn about communications between police and members of White Nationalist groups apparently helping them avoid arrest.  

We support those willing to stand up to White Nationalist violence, and at this moment our community needs a police force that prioritizes de-escalation with a goal of zero tolerance for the use of lethal force.

We support pursuing White Nationalist organizations and leaders as domestic terrorists and strengthening legislation addressing Oregon Hate Crimes.

We are committed to ongoing vigilance about and information sharing about the PPB’s actions regarding White Nationalists and counter protests.

Sponsored by

To: Ted Wheeler, Mayor of Portland and Police Commissioner
From: Sara Carr

We, the undersigned, write today as people of faith and people of good will, directed and inspired by our diverse traditions, and united around shared values to confront injustice.

We are committed to anti-racism work in our community, and the threat that White Nationalism poses to the safety of all who call Oregon home requires us to speak at this moment.

Many of us have participated in counter rallies when organized hate groups like Patriot Prayer and other White Nationalists have come to Portland looking to terrorize our community.

We have seen some practices by the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) that increased safety on certain occasions, but we have also borne witness to police actions that cause us grave concern. These include PPB’s decision to use excessive force against peaceful protesters to enforce disperse orders, and surveilling activists.

We have been very concerned to learn about communications between police and members of White Nationalist groups apparently helping them avoid arrest.

We support those willing to stand up to White Nationalist violence, and at this moment our community needs a police force that prioritizes de-escalation with a goal of zero tolerance for the use of lethal force.

We support pursuing White Nationalist organizations and leaders as domestic terrorists and strengthening legislation addressing Oregon Hate Crimes.

We are committed to ongoing vigilance about and information sharing about the PPB’s actions regarding White Nationalists and counter protests.