Jun 8, 20204 min read

June 8, 2020 Newsletter

Dear OSTPDX Members,

Sadly, the recent events and subsequent protests have cast a light on the institutional racism that is woven into the fabric of our country. This has made many of us dive deeper into our white privilege and think about what our responsibilities are to our fellow citizens and especially people of color. While there are many fronts that we need to tackle this on (criminal justice reforms, education, economics, etc.), one small thing we could all do is support local businesses owned and run by people of color. Below is a link to black-owned businesses in the Portland-Metro area (everything from movers to restaurants to clothing stores). The list was put together by SEI (Self Enhancement Inc.), which is a great local non-profit that provides an array of services and enrichment primarily for black youth & families.

https://www.selfenhancement.org/black-business

The Willamette Week also came out with this list of local black owned restaurants:https://www.wweek.com/restaurants/2020/06/02/these-black-owned-portland-restaurants-are-offering-takeout-and-delivery/

Also, read on for an important announcement by Swing Left and an urgent request to sign a redistricting initiative petition.

Announcements

Get Informed – Stay Engaged OSTPDX Virtual Meeting Framing the Progressive Message and Activism in the Time of COVID Tuesday June 16 5:30 PM

Now that the Oregon primary has passed and we have all had a chance to take a breather, June will be the time to re-connect and re-engage with OSTPDX as we look towards the historic November general election.

We will be hosting a teleconference with Dr Larry Wallack, emeritus professor of public health at the University of California, Berkeley, and the former dean of the College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State University. He will be back for an encore presentation on framing the progressive message. His presentation will prepare us to use values-based communications with voters, especially important in these divisive times.

Erica Goldman, PNW Regional Organizing Coordinator for Swing Left, Co-Founder of Indivisible Oregon and former group manager with Moms Demand Action will share with us Swing Left’s effective strategies and how you can get engaged for the November Election.

There will be plenty of time for Q&A or you submit your questions ahead of time on the RSVP, linked below.

Look forward to seeing everyone on June 16, pleaseRSVP here.

Swing Left has temporarily paused their national volunteer events and are encouraging people to devote their time and energy to racial justice. They have provided these resources to support the movement for racial justice and further your own anti-racist work:

Take part in a campaign with Color of Change. Contact elected officials to demand accountability and build real power for Black communities across the country.
Donate to organizations fighting racism and police brutality. Make your contribution monthly to help drive sustained financial resources to these organizations, with or without the spotlight of national news.
Donate to a bail fund in your state or community. Help combat racial and economic disparities in the bail system and defend protesters’ freedom, regardless of their wealth.
Learn about state and local policies to address police violence. Find out if these policies have been adopted where you live, and then ask your neighbors to join you in contacting your elected officials.
Choose your next book from this anti-racist reading list. Buy from black booksellers and publishers, and gather your friends for a virtual book club to make your way through the list.
Listen to more Black and Brown voices, starting with these podcasts, films, and more. Uplift this content on a regular basis by sharing it with your friends and family too.

Actions & Events

Redistricting Initiative Petition

You might have received a mailer from People Not Politicians about Initiative Petition 57 to establish an independent redistricting commission rather than leaving the responsibility with the Oregon legislature. Legislatures are inherently partisan and an independent commission is likely to make better decisions, avoid gerrymandering and help keep appropriate voting blocs together.

If you did not receive the mailer, see below for an OPB item about theredistricting petitionand a link to download, print, sign and mail. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS, whichever petition you choose. It is very important that the correct instructions are followed for the type of petition you choose to print. If you collect signatures from others, note that the petition carrier mustsign and date.

There is significant time pressure. These must be mailed by June 26. We need 200,000 signatures. Thank you!

In Face Of Pandemic, Opponents Of Partisan Redistricting In Oregon Pursue New Ballot Initiative Strategy

OST-PDX Activist Reading Group

Our next meeting will be Thursday, June 11th, 7:00-8:30pm via Zoom.

If you are interested in joining our meetings, contact Ken Rosenberg atrosenbergkd@yahoo.com.

Virtual Swing Left & Vote Forward Letter Writing

Vote Forward and Swing Left are working together to increase civic participation by sending letters to voters. If you’re interested in printing and writing letters on your own,click herefor more information. Listed below are some virtual letter writing events and you may search for othershere.

Write Letters to Voters Virtually with Indivisible Oregon and Swing Left!

Indivisible National has createdthis resourceon how to host your own virtual events and more information on letter writing parties specifically can be found here.

Digital Events

City Club of Portland has put all of their programming online and is FREE to the public. Check out their upcomingvirtual events calendar.

Continued Health Care Disparities in Oregon's Latinx Community: Wednesday, June 10th from 2-3
Community Webinar: Red, White and Brown: A Timeline of Race in the U.S.: Tuesday, June 9th from 9-11 (ticket purchase required)
Oregonians For Equality Luncheon: Tuesday, June 9th from 12-1
AWAKENED ACTION: Women Leaders Speak to the Climate Catastrophe and Pandemic and Explore Strategies for a Sane, Just, and Compassionate Future June 21st from 7:00-9:00 p.m.