1. I testified tonight at the City of Portland's Council meeting. I reminded the Mayor and Commissioners:
In 2020, the people of Portland took to the streets for 100 straight days to protest systemic racism and white supremacy.
In 2020, the people of Portland took to the streets for 100 straight days to protest systemic racism and white supremacy.
2. We protested because it is unjust and immoral for the police to harm and kill Black people.
3. As the City makes decisions about adding funding and officers to the Portland Police Bureau, it is important we all remember Portland police officers’ racist misconduct and violence towards Black community members, such as:
4. - In 1981, Portland police officers left dead possums in front of a black-owned restaurant for the owners and patrons.
- In 1985, Lloyd Tony Stevenson was killed by police with a sleeper chokehold.
- In 1985, Lloyd Tony Stevenson was killed by police with a sleeper chokehold.
5. In response to public outrage about this murder, Portland police sold t-shirts at a precinct parking lot with an image of a smoking handgun and the words, “Don’t Choke ‘Em, Smoke ‘Em."
6. - In 2003, Kendra James was gunned down by police during a traffic stop.
- In 2010, Aaron Campbell was shot in the back and killed by police during a welfare check.
- In 2017, Quanice Hayes was killed by police while on his knees and his arms raised.
- In 2010, Aaron Campbell was shot in the back and killed by police during a welfare check.
- In 2017, Quanice Hayes was killed by police while on his knees and his arms raised.
7. - In 2017, Portland police helped West Linn police harass Michael Fesser with a wrongful arrest because Mr. Fesser’s boss wanted to intimidate him from making a discrimination complaint.
- In 2019, Andre Gladden, a legally blind man with mental health needs, was killed.
- In 2019, Andre Gladden, a legally blind man with mental health needs, was killed.
8. The Mayor's proposal to add more police officers is a fear-based, knee-jerk reaction that is not based on the data and evidence. Data specific to Portland shows that the crime rate is not impacted by the size of the police force.
9. Stopping police violence must be the priority. To address crime, we need to center racial justice and evidence-based solutions such as Portland Street Response and civilian-led offices specifically designed to administer community-driven public safety approaches.
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