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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 2018)
Street Roots • Aug. 3-9, 2018 Page 3 Editorial Saturday rally a sideshow distraction to Measure 105 t is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. I If ever there was a time to aspire to that philosophy, it is now. On Saturday, the so-called Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer movement will be busing in people from out of state demonstration, or judging by their rhetoric, instigate a fight, on Portland’s waterfront. There’s no question that violent provocation is the goal, given language used by followers of these groups, and despite claims to the contrary by its lead instigator. It’S a shipped in demonstration intended for a televised audience of the Opposition, all with a title suggesting it’s a campaign rally for someone who is not even running for office in Oregon. What this really is, however, is a stunt to incite violence and fabricate a victimhood for the same white nationalist, anti-immigrant minority that is also fueling the efforts in Oregon to change our rules around local law enforcement. That’s the root of Measure 105, which will appear on the Oregon ballot in November. Measure 105 would repeal what’s become known as Oregon’s “sanctuary law,” a statute passed three decades ago to end the practice by local officers of racial profiling people of F llT fllllil to draw support for Measure 105, Oregon law already allows local law enforcement officers to communicate with immigration officers when an actual criminal offense has taken place. And local law enforcement officers can arrest anyone who is charged with a criminal violation of federal immigration laws, or to subject stage a to arrest for the crime under a warrant issued by federal magistrate. The suggestion that our state’s policy allows police and the public to harbor criminals, as proponents of Measure 105 put forth, is bogus. This isn’t really about crime at all. But that’s what you’re likely to hear Saturday when the rally comes to town. Hubris parading in place of the real issues. We support the individuals and organizations that will be standing there to confront - if recent history bears out - the white supremacy, Nazi salutes and racist taunts expected at this Saturday. It’s necessary we stand up against hatred. But we also need to rise above merely cursing this darkness. Getting lost in the tactics of arguing only detracts from the issues at the root of the argument. It conflates what should be the real debate: the need for authentic immigration reform and justice, not this phony wrestling match. To this, we need to bring out the best Portland has to offer, not the worst. Rather than letting them draw us into a bloody brawl - adding to their propaganda - perhaps it’s time to, brine put the trombones color ¡under th e guise of im m igration enforcem en t .^ e c ^ jis e th a t’s exactly w h at w as happening three decades ago in th is sta te . It was also intended to prevent federal policy from usurping local resources, and ordering them to act outside of their purview of enforcing public safety. At the time of its passage, it wasn’t framed as a sanctuary policy at all, but rather common sense. Oregon law states: No law enforcement agency of the State of Oregon or of any political subdivision of the state shall use agency moneys, equipment or personnel for the purpose of detecting or apprehending persons whose only violation o f law is that they are persons of foreign citizenship present in the United States in violation o f federal immigration laws. But contrary to much of the rhetoric used a n d tu b a s a n d g iv e t h e n p is e a r u n fo r - ■ m oney. Onward M arch Fourth! Viva le Elvis! Calling all Unipipers! Bring on the kazoo band, break out in a chorus Of song, send in the clowns! That would be a fitting response to this low-rent sideshow. But most importantly, vote. Because Measure 105 is no joke. Its passage would clear the way for racial profiling, extracting local resources to enforce aggressive and controversial immigration policies, and unraveling a system put in place to ensure all of us equal rights under the law. And check with the elections office first to confirm your eligibility to vote. It can’t be taken for granted. Wherever you stand on immigration reform, and much needs to be done, this measure is the Worst response. Make your stand. Write in J If you would f e t o t w e '' ' < / ' / someWng Z—« ihatyou’ve . written published in our pages, or would contact Executive Editor Joanne Zuhl at 503-228-5657, joanne@streetroots.org. We ask that all submissions include the author’s name and contact information, Street Beets 211 NW Davis St. Portland, OR 97209 503-228-5657 Fax:503-227-3117 www.streetroots.org www.news.streetroots.oi Hours: 7:30 a.m<3 p.m. a .m .-2p .m .S at.a nd7 :3 Advertising Interested in advertising in St Andrew Hogan atandrew®s Vendor Program Director Cole Merkel Development Director Andrew Hogan andrew@streetroots.org Senior Staff Reporter Emily Green Program Assistant Caelin M iltko , Jesuit Volunteer Vendor Assistant Scott Jackson, Alex Gillow-Wiles Development Assistant Rosemary Wilson Editorial Producer Monica Kwasnik Reporters Sarah Hansell, Leonora Ko, Emilly Prado, Ellena Rosenthal, Amanda Waldroupe, DeVon Pouncey, Helen Hili Photographers Diego Diaz, Arkady Brown, Celeste Noche Canvasser Desmond Hardison Board of Directors Chair Rachel Langford Vice-Chair Dan Jones Treasurer Heather Stadick Secretary Alison Hallett Directors Michael Anderson, Sandra Hahn, John Brown, Neis Johnson Volunteers John Barker, Stacey Heath, Anjali Rathore, Dennis Hogan, Lucas Hawthorne, Thomas Buell Jr., Jason Cohen, Doug Spangle, Susannah Kamala, Jon Raymond, Diana Richardson, Paul and Madeline Gefroh, Mary Anne Joyce, Brooke Anderson, Gillian Floren, Mark Oldani, Bianca Butler, Camber Hansen- Karr, Miranda Woods, Henry Brannan, Helen Hill, Mary Emerson, Brooke Anderson, Kathleen McFall, Robb Hengerer, Maile Yeats-Rowe, Erin Parsons, Faye Powell, Jon Raymond, Danny Moran arid Megan Pickerel-Winer. If you're interested in volunteering with Street Roots, please submit a volunteer application at streetr0Qts.org/volunteer. Or you can call for more information at 503-228-5657. Demonstrators at Occupy IC E event in June.
