Portland is our home.

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By now, you’ve likely heard the news about President Donald Trump’s decision to federalize the Oregon National Guard and deploy it here in Portland. This action will pit Oregon National Guard members against fellow Oregonians in an unnecessary, and likely illegal, political stunt.

I am deeply alarmed by this decision. President Trump’s bold mischaracterization of Portland is dangerous and unfounded. The reality is, Portland is safe and thriving. This year in particular, we have seen our city turn a corner: downtown foot traffic is up, violent crime is down, and we have a continued increase of small businesses starting throughout the city.  

However, none of that matters to our president. He is happy to get in the way of all the incredible progress we have made, to make political statements that are harmful and dangerous to Portlanders and the momentum of our city. And let me be clear: he will not stop at Portland. Our city should not be a testing ground for political stunts. Portland is our home. We stand with our neighbors and we stand up for our rights in the face of his attempt to create an authoritarian regime.

In the past few days, we watched our entire City Council, our Mayor (and mayors across the state), our Governor, our Attorney General, and our incredible community oppose this completely unfounded and harmful military activation.

And we will continue to stand up, remaining undivided against these attacks on our communities. Peaceful resistance is critical. As we move forward, I encourage you to show up and show out for our amazing city. Make your voice heard. Join me in taking direct action to help our community:

 If you see confirmed or highly likely ICE activity, contact the Protect Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC) Oregon at 888-622-1510 so information can be verified and community support networks activated. Don’t call with rumors or other law enforcement activity; their hotline staff need to be available to take in confirmed or highly likely reports.

Visit Protect Oregon and sign up for weekly updates with action items from a coalition of organizations united to protect our communities.

Volunteer with local organizations to support your neighbors. The president is attacking our communities in many ways, including limited SNAP benefits, cutting healthcare, and restricting funding to foodbanks, clinics and other resources people need now more than ever.

As your Council President, I will not let this absurd action by our federal government derail the work of the city. We must keep the momentum of our recovery — we cannot go back. In that spirit, I will still send out my regular monthly newsletter in the coming days, because the amazing things happening in City Hall and in Portland deserve to be highlighted. Our city is thriving, and I want you all to help me tell that story far and wide to underscore how unnecessary this federal action is for Portland.

I know I always end my newsletters by thanking you for your engagement, but I’ve never meant it more than I do today. I am so grateful to be your Portland City Council President. We will get through this, together.

In solidarity,

Elana Pirtle-Guiney 

Council President, Portland City Councilor, District 2