May 2017
NEWS
The Southwest Portland Post • 3
Hate crimes focus of town hall meeting at Jewish community center
By Jack Rubinger
The Southwest Portland Post
We’re living in crazy, paranoid
times. Events that seemed unlikely
are becoming more commonplace.
Are we alone in our feelings?
Is President Donald Trump at the
root of much of the negativity and
cruelty that’s happening locally,
nationally, globally?
A recent town hall meeting at
Mittleman Jewish Community
Center, which featured an all-star
panel of politicians, counselors,
academics, religious leaders and
law enforcement officials, did much
to alleviate concerns and offer some
relief through dialogue, discussion,
discourse.
The center itself was the site of a
bomb threat in March.
The meeting was timely for a
variety of reasons — a global increase
in hate crimes, several bomb threats
at Jewish community centers,
increased media attention on hate
and hate crimes and an uptick in
anti-Semitic graffiti.
The New York Times has launched
“This Week in Hate,” a column
devoted to the topic.
The mood at the meeting was
hopeful and cautiously optimistic.
It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t rowdy. It
wasn’t a protest. It was a gathering
created to encourage listening and
learning.
Most everyone on the panel agreed
that changes picked up speed in
the weeks before and after the
presidential election and that “haters”
are feeling more emboldened.
For some on the panel, including
Rabbi David Kosak from
Congregation Nevah Shalom, David
Molko, a counselor from Jewish
Child and Family Service, and
Professor Steve Wasserstrom from
Reed College, there’s a growing
sense of “here we go again.”
According to Wasserstrom, “Hate
crimes aren’t new, but they seemed
to go away after 9-11. “Now, it’s
coming out of the woodwork since
the presidential election.”
Acknowledging that children may
be more vulnerable and frightened
was the focus of remarks from
Douglass Ruth of Jewish Child and
Family Services.
Ruth talked about how to talk to
children from a “Trauma Informed
Approach” to create a sense of safety.
He encouraged kids to ask questions
and stressed that adults don’t always
have the answers.
“Many groups feel targeted,”
said City Commissioner Nick Fish.
“My advice: form alliances and
coalitions with local groups who
share common values like Muslims
and the LGBT community. We must
continue to have gatherings like
this,” said Fish.
The law enforcement community
was represented by the FBI, Portland
police and the State of Oregon
Attorney General’s office.
“ We h a v e t h e c o m m i t m e n t
of the department to pursue
investigations,” said Bill Williams,
the United States Attorney for the
District of Oregon.
Scott Goldman from the FBI
concurred, saying that hate crimes
were a priority for his bureau.
“There’s a new sense of urgency,”
said Goldman. “People are feeling
emboldened.”
Once the panelists offered their
perspectives, the floor was opened
up to community members in
attendance who expressed concern,
gratitude and hopefulness. About
100 people attended the meeting.
“We are in a unique situation
in Oregon,” said one audience
member, looking for guidance from
representatives of U.S. senators Ron
Wyden and Jeff Merkley.
“Our challenge for those of us
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who want to
be activistic
outside of
Oregon is to
b ro a d e n o u r
reach. What can
we do to make
a difference in
our country?”
The Senators’
representatives
freely shared
their business
cards and
encouraged
community
An all-star panel of local officials was featured at a town hall
members to
meeting on hate crimes at Mittleman Jewish Community Center
contact them in April. (Post photo by Jack Rubinger)
directly to learn
more about what we all can do to
minority group and have a positive
make a difference outside of Oregon.
experience then they are less likely
Reporter’s Note: The U.S. Senate was
to harbor hatred,” said Kosak. “We
in session and both Wyden and Merkley
can indeed make a positive impact
were in Washington, D.C. Merkley was
before the hate begins.”
leading a filibuster protesting Supreme
One resident brought up a recent
Court nominee Neil Gorsuch at the time
graffiti incident at Grant High
of the town meeting in Portland.
School. Commissioner Fish offered
T h i s w r i t e r w a s i m p re s s e d
his perspective on the incident.
by the Rabbi Kosak’s passion,
“It’s my view that we must act very
deep knowledge of the issues,
quickly to remove the graffiti,” said
and comfort in sharing his own
Fish. It cannot be allowed to stand. I
personal experience with frightening
share your concerns about graffiti.”
incidents.
Fish went on to say, “I urge you to
Kosak offered both spiritual
reach out to (Portland Mayor) Ted
and community approaches as he
Wheeler and my colleagues to tell
talked about resilience, fear, hatred,
them why this is important because
friendship, and carving time to make
this is a line item in the budget and
new friends.
your feedback will have an impact
“What we know is that when
on decisions that are made.”
people encounter someone from a
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