AAUW of Oregon & AAUW Portland Speak Out!
As many of you may know, federal authorities have been deployed in downtown Portland in connection with demonstrations related to the killing of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement and concerns about local police overreach. It appears that without identifying themselves or their agencies, these authorities have stopped, forcibly grabbed and detained peaceful protestors, which have resulted in serious injuries. This deployment was not requested by Portland and in fact Portland leadership continues to strongly request that these authorities leave the city.
AAUW of OR and the Portland Branch of AAUW OR objects to this deployment and use of unlawful tactics, and has published a Resolution urging that federal authorities immediately cease the unlawful seizures and detentions of Oregon citizens in Portland and to remove themselves from the City of Portland. The text of the resolution follows:
AAUW of OR and the Portland Branch of AAUW OR objects to this deployment and use of unlawful tactics, and has published a Resolution urging that federal authorities immediately cease the unlawful seizures and detentions of Oregon citizens in Portland and to remove themselves from the City of Portland. The text of the resolution follows:
RESOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN OF OREGON ("AAUW OF OR") AND THE PORTLAND BRANCH OF AAUW OF OR
Dated: July 22, 2020
Dated: July 22, 2020
WHEREAS, a number of Portland citizens have been recently exercising their First Amendment rights by demonstrating against racism and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement;
WHEREAS, we do not condone violent or destructive actions undertaken by people attending these demonstrations;
WHEREAS, it appears that in early July, 2020 and continuing until the present date, peaceful protestors are being stopped, forcibly grabbed and detained by federal authorities, including the US Department of Homeland Security, US Marshals Service, US Customs and Border Protection and Federal Protection agencies;
WHEREAS, it appears that during these unlawful seizures and detentions that federal authorities have been using private unmarked vehicles, and have failed to identify the agency they represent or explain why Oregon citizens are being taken into custody;
WHEREAS, a peaceful protester has been hit in the head by federal authorities with an impact weapon resulting in his sustaining severe injuries;
WHEREAS, it appears that these seizures and detentions by federal authorities have been done without probable cause and in violation of the civil rights of Oregon's citizens;
WHEREAS, instead of containing violence or the volatile environment in downtown Portland, these actions of the federal authorities have provoked and exacerbated them;
WHEREAS, the Attorney General of the State of Oregon has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the State of Oregon seeking to restrain these unlawful activities, including a requirement that federal agents identify themselves and their agency before detaining or arresting people off the streets of Oregon, explain to persons detained or arrested the reason for the detention or arrest, and not to arrest individuals without probable cause or a warrant;
WHEREAS, on July 17, 2020, Senator Jeffrey A. Merkley, Senator Ron Wyden, Representative Suzanne Bonamici, and Representative Earl Blumenauer sent a letter to US Attorney General William Barr and Acting Secretary Chad Wolf of the Department of Homeland Security expressing their alarm about the authoritarian tactics employed in the streets of Portland by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we urge federal authorities to immediately (1) cease the unlawful seizures and detentions of Oregon citizens in Portland and (2) remove these recently deployed federal authorities from the City of Portland.
SIGNED BY: the American Association of University Women of Oregon ("AAUW of OR") and the Portland Branch of AAUW of OR:
Pat Lehman, Co-President AAUW of OR
Sue Klumph, Co-President, AAUW of OR
Trish Garner, State Public Policy Chair, AAUW of OR
Susan Marthens, Co-President, Portland Branch, AAUW of OR
Katie Raetz, Co-President, Portland Branch, AAUW of OR
WHEREAS, we do not condone violent or destructive actions undertaken by people attending these demonstrations;
WHEREAS, it appears that in early July, 2020 and continuing until the present date, peaceful protestors are being stopped, forcibly grabbed and detained by federal authorities, including the US Department of Homeland Security, US Marshals Service, US Customs and Border Protection and Federal Protection agencies;
WHEREAS, it appears that during these unlawful seizures and detentions that federal authorities have been using private unmarked vehicles, and have failed to identify the agency they represent or explain why Oregon citizens are being taken into custody;
WHEREAS, a peaceful protester has been hit in the head by federal authorities with an impact weapon resulting in his sustaining severe injuries;
WHEREAS, it appears that these seizures and detentions by federal authorities have been done without probable cause and in violation of the civil rights of Oregon's citizens;
WHEREAS, instead of containing violence or the volatile environment in downtown Portland, these actions of the federal authorities have provoked and exacerbated them;
WHEREAS, the Attorney General of the State of Oregon has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the State of Oregon seeking to restrain these unlawful activities, including a requirement that federal agents identify themselves and their agency before detaining or arresting people off the streets of Oregon, explain to persons detained or arrested the reason for the detention or arrest, and not to arrest individuals without probable cause or a warrant;
WHEREAS, on July 17, 2020, Senator Jeffrey A. Merkley, Senator Ron Wyden, Representative Suzanne Bonamici, and Representative Earl Blumenauer sent a letter to US Attorney General William Barr and Acting Secretary Chad Wolf of the Department of Homeland Security expressing their alarm about the authoritarian tactics employed in the streets of Portland by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we urge federal authorities to immediately (1) cease the unlawful seizures and detentions of Oregon citizens in Portland and (2) remove these recently deployed federal authorities from the City of Portland.
SIGNED BY: the American Association of University Women of Oregon ("AAUW of OR") and the Portland Branch of AAUW of OR:
Pat Lehman, Co-President AAUW of OR
Sue Klumph, Co-President, AAUW of OR
Trish Garner, State Public Policy Chair, AAUW of OR
Susan Marthens, Co-President, Portland Branch, AAUW of OR
Katie Raetz, Co-President, Portland Branch, AAUW of OR
UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS
August
A Discussion of Homelessness Within Our Community
Speaker: Tyler Mac Innis, Executive Director, Welcome Home Coalition
Date: Tuesday, August 18
Time: 10:00 am via Zoom
Tyler Mac Innis, Executive Director for the Welcome Home Coalition will join us to discuss their work to date to address homelessness in our community. Within the framework of the passage of the Metro Homeless Services Tax in the May 19th election, Tyler will discuss how the coalition envisions using the funding for supportive housing and homelessness services throughout the Metro region. Tyler will also summarize Welcome Home’s work to date and will inform us about how we can support the Coalition’s efforts moving forward.
We are asking our members to register for this meeting as a security measure and those registration emails will be sent to you by your branch Communication team as we get closer to the meeting date so keep an eye out for them and remember to check your spam/junk folders if you don't see them in your inbox. Once you register for a meeting, Zoom will automatically send you the meeting information that you will need to logon to the meeting when it is time.
Speaker: Tyler Mac Innis, Executive Director, Welcome Home Coalition
Date: Tuesday, August 18
Time: 10:00 am via Zoom
Tyler Mac Innis, Executive Director for the Welcome Home Coalition will join us to discuss their work to date to address homelessness in our community. Within the framework of the passage of the Metro Homeless Services Tax in the May 19th election, Tyler will discuss how the coalition envisions using the funding for supportive housing and homelessness services throughout the Metro region. Tyler will also summarize Welcome Home’s work to date and will inform us about how we can support the Coalition’s efforts moving forward.
We are asking our members to register for this meeting as a security measure and those registration emails will be sent to you by your branch Communication team as we get closer to the meeting date so keep an eye out for them and remember to check your spam/junk folders if you don't see them in your inbox. Once you register for a meeting, Zoom will automatically send you the meeting information that you will need to logon to the meeting when it is time.
Future Programs - Mark Your Calendars!
TBD: A tour of "Nevertheless She Persisted" at the Oregon Historical Society
The Latest Branch News:
Catch up with branch news, get information on upcoming programs, check out the Study & Interest Groups, and so much more.
Click here for the latest issue of the Rose City Reporter.
PORTLAND BRANCH ONGOING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Monthly Board of Directors Meetings
Portland branch Board of Directors meetings are open to all members. Attending is an excellent way to get to know the board members and to learn about what's being planned for our branch. Branch Directors meetings are usually held the first Wednesday of each month. For specific dates and time, please see the Portland Branch Calendar above.
|
Are you looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity??
Our branch members partner with the Portland area Girl Scouts and the Saturday Academy to offer beginning programming classes to young girls in support of our commitment to STEM education for girls and women. No special tech skills are necessary - just a desire to help young girls expand their knowledge of STEM. If you would like to know more about this program, please contact Ginny McQueen our STEM volunteer coordinator, who will be happy to talk with you about time commitments and responsibilities. And if you would like to know more about the great work Saturday Academy does, check out their website
|
OTHER EVENTS & ITEMS OF INTEREST
|
YWCA Events & Workshops
The YWCA of Greater Portland's mission is to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. To support that mission, the 'Y' offers a wide variety of events and workshops every month. Check out their website to find an event or workshop or to get on their email distribution list to be notified of upcoming events.
|
Did you know that women in Oregon earned 82 cents for every one dollar men earned in 2017? Teaching women to better negotiate salaries is one way to help close the gender pay gap and AAUW has rolled out two programs to help close that gap. Start Smart is a workshop aimed at helping college women build skills and confidence to negotiate salaries. Work Smart is designed to help women at any stage of their careers negotiate better salaries and benefits and is now available in an online version! Ready to get started? Click here to register for a FREE online Work Smart salary negotiation course. |
League of Women Voters Civic Education Programs
The Portland League of Women Voters Civic Education Tuesday evening programs are free and open to the public. Programs are designed to inform the community about relevant issues. For a complete listing of the programs or to view a video of previous presentations please go to their website.
|