Street Roots • May 12-18, 2017
O p in io n
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We won’t be proxies for anti-immigrant policy
ords mean things.
Or at least they used to.
We shouldn’t give it to them. We shouldn’t become
proxies for such destructive policies.
That could be a challenge, given the financial
Take the word “criminal” for example. It
carrot ICE has for cash-strapped counties with costly
has been inserted into the debate over immigration,
jails to run. Local jails across the country are part of
pushed by the Trump administration insistence on
IC E ’s scheme to increase space for an aggressive
arresting, incarcerating and deporting so-called
detention agenda, and ICE is busy identifying more
“criminal” aliens. It’s a term that
beds in county facilities to house the anticipated rise
conjures up the perfect antagonist
in detentions in years to come. It’s a new form of
if you’re looking to profit from a
privatizing our local jails and officers in the
m
paranoid, divided, us-against-them
industrial detention complex.
society.
It’s important to remember that coming into this
Fear and stereotypes around immigration
country illegally - crossing the border outside of the
enforcement have always been destructive to a
proper process - is simply a misdemeanor. And if
community, but they seemed to be headed toward a
you have been in the country legally and your
fever pitch as the Trump administration digs its
documents expire, the offense is a civil offense - it is
claws into U .S . Immigration and Customs
not a crime. Yet, with compounding levels of offenses
Enforcement.
aimed at ensnaring immigrants, the federal
So what does this term mean?
government has become a “criminal” making
It can mean a violation of people’s constitutional
machine.
rights, for one. All people in the United States -
Oregonians have been letting their voice be heard
regardless of your residency or citizenship status -
against the invasive tactics of ICE in our
are Under
protected
under the U .S. Constitution.
this administration,
it means taking basic
communities.
protections away from people who are
Lawmakers can follow suit, pushing back harder
undocumented, discriminating against people of
with legislation that prohibits unchecked federal
color, and ultimately tearing apart families and
collusion with local law enforcement. One example
people’s lives.
to look at is California, which is considering several
Because under current policy for undocumented
pieces of legislation to establish a due process for
immigrants, anybody charged with a crime - even if
cooperation between federal and local officials - one
they’re not convicted, is subject to incarceration and
that protects individual rights and doesn’t exploit
deportation by IC E . Even further than that, IC E can
police authority.
detain and deport anyone they believe might have
It’s unconscionable that a nation that owes so
broken the law, whether they’re charged or not. And
much to immigrants would treat modern day
finally, just to sweep all the corners clean, it gives
immigrants with such contempt. We have designated
immigration enforcement officers individual
a population of people of color with a criminal label
judgement as to whether someone poses a risk to
for the slightest offenses, misdemeanors that would
public safety - and should be deported.
be a slap on the wrist for a native resident.
With so many people in their sights, it’s clear the
federal government wants - and is seemingly
Basta.
demanding - our complicity.
Enough.
W
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Executive Director Israel Bayer
israel@streetroots.org
Managing Editor Joanne Zuhl
joanne@streetroots.org
Vendor Program Director Cole Merkel
coie@streetroots.org
Operations Director Sarah Beecroft
Development Director Sarah Cloud
How you can support Street Roots this season
6. If you are traveling out of town with family or
ere are 10 ways to support Street Roots and
vendors this spring and summer. The more
friends, buy an extra copy of Street Roots for the
you spread the love about Street Roots and
road. Reading Street Roots at the airport, train
the more people who purchase the newspaper, the station, on a road trip or by the campfire is bound to
spur some great conversation.
more successful vendors are. It’s a win-win situation.
7. If friends or family are visiting from out of town.
1. Stop and talk to your neighborhood vendor.
Let them know what Street Roots is and the concept
______________________
Introduce yourself and let the
vendor know what you like and
behind it, and encourage them to buy a copy if they
DIRECTOR'S
are shopping at Powell’s bookstores or other
don’t like about the newspaper.
locations where vendors regularly sell.
Stay engaged and help us build
8. Let us know about your experience purchasing
community. Street Roots
Street Roots, both the good and bad. It means the
provides a safe place for
B y Israel Bayer
world to many of the vendors to hear from readers.
individuals to engage with
It’s equally important for us to know if things aren’t
people on the streets in a
going well on sales locations. Visit streetroots.org to
positive atmosphere.
submit your story today.
2. Recruit your peer network and turn them on to
9. Donate to Street Roots. We can’t do it without
Street Roots. It’s one of the best ways you can
you. Plus, when you give $25 or more to Street Roots
support the organization and vendors.
through June, you’ll receive a cool pack of Street
3. Tell businesses that you love Street Roots. Ask a
Roots buttons.
manager or tell the clerk how much you love having a
10. Lastly, pay it forward, Portlanders. The only
Street Roots vendor in front of the businesses that
way to combat poverty and hate is love. It transcends
you frequent. It makes all the difference in the world.
all. See someone having a bad day? Offer them a hand
4. Become a Street Roots ambassador and help
or a smile. Do something nice for a stranger. Take
spread the word. Buy an additional Street Roots and
the time to spread your love this spring and summer.
introduce the organization to at least one friend or
From all of us at Street Roots, we appreciate your
co-worker this summer.
readership and support of vendors selling the
5. Blast out Street Roots on social media. Have the
newspaper. Giving a hand up and getting a great read
perfect shot of reading a Street Roots with your
in return is our goal. Thank you for making that
morning coffee and cinnamon roll? Take a photo and
possible. Happy summer!
put it on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
H
Israel Bayer is the
executive director o f
Street Roots. You can
reach him at
israel@streetroots. org
or follow him on
Twitter @israelbayer.
Volunteers
Jan Bayer, John Barker, Stacey Heath, Anjali Rathore,
Zoe Klingmann, Dan Jones, Dennis Hogan, Monica
McKune, Susan Wolfe, Lucas Hawthorne, Thomas
Buell Jr., Jeanie Lunsford, Yasmin Amirsoleymani,
Jason Cohen, Tom Ray, Doug Spangle, Susannah
Kamala, Jon Raymond, Diana Richardson, Cherie
Manning, Paul and Madeline Gefroh, Mary Anne
Joyce, Del Shawn Davidson, Gillian Floren, Mark
OlDani, Bridget Brown, Cody Travels, Bianca Butler,
Robb Hengerer, Alex Cherin, Jenny Farres, Evan
Firsick, Camber Hansen-Karr, Miranda Woods, Henry
Brannan, Megan Smith, Luke Scheuermann and
Helen Hill. If you're interested in volunteering with
Street Roots, please submit a volunteer application at
streetroots.org/volunteer. Or you can call for more
information at 503-228-5657.
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