"Critical we come together.. acts that perpetuate racism harm public health,'' Chair Kafoury says.
Multnomah County supports Gov. Kate Brown’s executive action establishing a unified command ahead of the gathering of far-right groups in Portland this Saturday. This action will allow for better coordination among county, city and state law enforcement officials in the coming days to prevent direct conflict and keep our neighborhoods safe.
We have seen in the recent past that these groups descend on communities in large numbers in order to intimidate community members, provoke reactions and act violently. New reports also point to active planning among members of these groups to sow chaos and violence, particularly in Portland. The size and intent of this event necessitate the coordinated law enforcement effort that the governor announced this morning.
It is critical that we come together as a community to decry these groups, their destructive rhetoric and regressive message. The Sept. 24 statement by the Board of County Commissioners made it clear that racism, hate, division and violence are not welcome here. It’s just as crucial for the community to feel assured that law enforcement will apply equal justice under the law to anyone, or any group, that wields violence and threatens the safety of the public.
Acts that perpetuate racism harm public health. Vanport and the catastrophic flood that swept a Black community away is a textbook example of how racism blocks opportunities in housing, income, education and access to healthcare. Research today overwhelmingly shows the stress from racism leads to preterm labor, heart disease, diabetes, and other underlying health conditions that make people vulnerable to COVID-19 and shorter life spans. Racism is a threat to individuals and to our community. We cannot tolerate rallies promoting such harm.