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April 4, 2018
‘Now is the Time to Act’
C ontinued from f ront
chief petitioners Rev. Alcena
Boozer, director emerita at
St. Philip the Deacon Epis-
copal Church in northeast
Portland and a former princi-
pal at Jefferson High School,
and Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana
of Congregation Beth Israel.
Imam Muhammad A. Najieb,
director of the Muslim Com-
munity Center of Portland, is
campaign treasurer.
At this time, the initiative
is called “Lift Every Voice,
Oregon Measure 43.” If the
required number of signatures
are gathered and approved, it
will be on the ballot in Novem-
ber.
Talks of a campaign to
prevent mass shootings with
tougher gun control laws have
been in the works before. How-
ever, after an overwhelming
response from youth across
the country demanding gun re-
forms following last month’s
mass school shooting in Park-
land, Fla., Rev. Knutson and
the others decided it was time
to do something in Oregon.
“The youth are our biggest
commodity – what will we
leave them?” said Iman Najieb.
“Life and protection of our
youth today is paramount. We
want to amplify their voices.”
Added Boozer, “We need to
let the young people know that
we have their backs.”
Tamrah Knutson, who is
leading the youth committee for
the ballot measure campaign,
hopes that youth involvement
in the effort will inspire and
empower young people to cre-
ate positive change moving
forward.
“I hope this can serve as a
vehicle for them to enter the
political system hands-on, as
they are at the front and center
of this effort,” she said.
All involved hope that the
campaign will serve as an ex-
ample of what can be accom-
plished when people from
different walks of life find
common ground and work
together to better the greater
community.
“There is power in this being
a faith-led movement. We take
glory in our differences but we
also honor the commonalities,
one of which is a commitment
to preserve life,” said Rabbi
Cahana, noting that there are
three different religions repre-
sented in the leadership of this
campaign.
“Faith leaders have a higher
calling that demands our at-
tention, and now is the time to
act,” he added.
As of last week, 3,443 signa-
tures were delivered to the Sec-
retary of State’s office to get
the initiative’s title approved.
Once it clears regulatory hur-
dles, the campaign can start
collecting the required 88,184
signatures needed to make it to
the ballot. All petitioners are
volunteers.
Although gun control is a
controversial issue, the advo-
cates are confident that they
will be met with support.
“This is a modest propos-
al that takes one step in trying
to make our state safer,” said
Liz McKanna, chair of the
campaign’s legal advice com-
mittee. Added Tamrah Knut-
son, “We are for the Second
Amendment. We are against
weapons of war. We invite
good faith gun owners to join
us.”
For updates and more infor-
mation on the Oregon Measure
43 campaign, visit liftevery-
voiceoregon.com.