Stephanie Newton, Linn Dems First Vice Chair, and fellow Democrat and Albany City Councilor Dick Olsen were among the more than 1,000 people who lined Ellsworth Street June 2 in a two-hour peaceful protest against racial injustice and in support of Black Lives Matter.
Statement from Democratic Party of Oregon
leadership on protests and police violence
June 4, 2020
The Democratic Party has not lived up to our Party's vision for true equality. This is why we are recommitting ourselves to the actions necessary to bring about needed changes that are so long overdue. Our eyes are open, we share the anger, and we stand in humble solidarity with all who are working to bring about critical cultural transformation.
We stand united with millions of people around the world in our condemnation of police violence against George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, and far too many other innocent black Americans whose lives were taken way too soon. Black lives matter. They are precious, glorious, and irreplaceable.
In these most extraordinary times, anger and frustration about the status quo is not just understandable, but justified. Violence and destruction are not. We will march shoulder to shoulder with those who have taken to the streets to peacefully protest. Making our voices heard is a moral imperative. If we want to bring about real systemic change, then the choice isn’t between protests and politics. We have to do both.
At a time when our nation is suffering under misguided and malevolent leadership that seeks to divide us and turn back the clock to a supposed “greater” America, we know that the greatness of our nation is in its diversity. And as we work to take back our democracy, we must move forward with a full understanding of our historical strengths and weaknesses. That means fighting against the forces that seek to divide us — including fascists, right-wing agitators, and those inclined to incite violence for violence’s sake.
DPO Black Caucus Chair, Rosa Colquitt, PhD, said it best last week when she wrote:
The very core of both our Platform and our belief system as Democrats is about the equality of all. But in the wake of yet another senseless killing, we face the sad reality that our advocacy and even our most heartfelt, passionate beliefs were not enough to save George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and the thousands who came before.
As the leadership of the Democratic Party of Oregon, we demand the public right to equal treatment before the law — regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, physical ability, or economic means.
We see and understand "unequal justice before the law." In this tragic moment in history, we will work tirelessly to elect candidates who demand and act on reform to bring real systemic change for Black Americans and all other communities of color. With our eyes firmly on the prize, we will work with those who are striving to create a just and prosperous future for all.
Thank you,
–– Carla "K.C." Hanson, Democratic Party of Oregon Chair; Pete Lee, DPO Vice Chair; Michelle Risher, DPO Vice Chair; Eileen Kiely, DPO Secretary
Eddy Morales; DPO Treasurer; Tanya Shively, Democratic National Committee Member; Travis Nelson, DNC Member; Matt Keating, DNC Member.
The Democratic Party has not lived up to our Party's vision for true equality. This is why we are recommitting ourselves to the actions necessary to bring about needed changes that are so long overdue. Our eyes are open, we share the anger, and we stand in humble solidarity with all who are working to bring about critical cultural transformation.
We stand united with millions of people around the world in our condemnation of police violence against George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, and far too many other innocent black Americans whose lives were taken way too soon. Black lives matter. They are precious, glorious, and irreplaceable.
In these most extraordinary times, anger and frustration about the status quo is not just understandable, but justified. Violence and destruction are not. We will march shoulder to shoulder with those who have taken to the streets to peacefully protest. Making our voices heard is a moral imperative. If we want to bring about real systemic change, then the choice isn’t between protests and politics. We have to do both.
At a time when our nation is suffering under misguided and malevolent leadership that seeks to divide us and turn back the clock to a supposed “greater” America, we know that the greatness of our nation is in its diversity. And as we work to take back our democracy, we must move forward with a full understanding of our historical strengths and weaknesses. That means fighting against the forces that seek to divide us — including fascists, right-wing agitators, and those inclined to incite violence for violence’s sake.
DPO Black Caucus Chair, Rosa Colquitt, PhD, said it best last week when she wrote:
The very core of both our Platform and our belief system as Democrats is about the equality of all. But in the wake of yet another senseless killing, we face the sad reality that our advocacy and even our most heartfelt, passionate beliefs were not enough to save George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and the thousands who came before.
As the leadership of the Democratic Party of Oregon, we demand the public right to equal treatment before the law — regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, physical ability, or economic means.
We see and understand "unequal justice before the law." In this tragic moment in history, we will work tirelessly to elect candidates who demand and act on reform to bring real systemic change for Black Americans and all other communities of color. With our eyes firmly on the prize, we will work with those who are striving to create a just and prosperous future for all.
Thank you,
–– Carla "K.C." Hanson, Democratic Party of Oregon Chair; Pete Lee, DPO Vice Chair; Michelle Risher, DPO Vice Chair; Eileen Kiely, DPO Secretary
Eddy Morales; DPO Treasurer; Tanya Shively, Democratic National Committee Member; Travis Nelson, DNC Member; Matt Keating, DNC Member.
Scenes from the June 2 peaceful protest in Albany
Events, reflections on death for George Floyd, racial injustice
There are events taking place across Oregon and the country to support our communities of color and to call for an end to systemic racism and the killing of black and brown people across this country, following the March 25 death of unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis. More than 1,000 people lined Ellsworth Street in downtown Albany on June 2 to peacefully protest. Some 2,000 gathered in downtown Corvallis on May 31.
Below are a number of events. If you know of others, please contact us at linncodems@dpo.org.
• March for Floyd, Saturday, June 6, Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E., Salem; speakers and statements, noon to 1:30 p.m.; foot march, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.; seven minutes of silent kneeling, 3 p.m.; car "march" for high-risk attendees. 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Also, Rosa Colquitt, Ph.D, Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon's Black Caucus, wrote a message May 29 on Facebook, titled "George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and all who came before" And see comments by Sen. Jeff Merkley, Congressman Peter DeFazio and State Rep. Marty Wilde.
Below are a number of events. If you know of others, please contact us at linncodems@dpo.org.
• March for Floyd, Saturday, June 6, Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E., Salem; speakers and statements, noon to 1:30 p.m.; foot march, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.; seven minutes of silent kneeling, 3 p.m.; car "march" for high-risk attendees. 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
- Juneteenth Celebration: Freedom Forward – NAACP Corvallis/Albany Chapter, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6.
- The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, is building a generationally transformative digital gathering called the Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington, on Saturday, June 20. At that assembly, the organization will demand that both major political parties address the interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism by implementing a Moral Agenda.
Also, Rosa Colquitt, Ph.D, Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon's Black Caucus, wrote a message May 29 on Facebook, titled "George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and all who came before" And see comments by Sen. Jeff Merkley, Congressman Peter DeFazio and State Rep. Marty Wilde.
About the Linn County Democratic Central Committee
The Linn County Democratic Central Committee (LCDCC) welcomes all Democrats and non-affiliated voters. We’re an all-volunteer organization that works hard to elect Democrats to represent the people of Linn County at local, state and national levels. Our meetings are generally held on the first Thursday of the month at Albany Public Library. The July general meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 2 , via Zoom. A social time begins at 6 p.m. The meeting starts at 6:30.
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