Hate crimes are on the rise in Portland. Hate Crimes are also known as Biased Crimes. Under Oregon law, a hate crime occurs when one person intentionally subjects another to offensive physical contact, threatens or inflicts physical injury, or threatens or causes damage to the property of another person because of their race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, or national origin.
This year, some neighbors in the SE Uplift Coalition area have experienced hate crimes. Nine hate crimes were reported within the first four months of 2017 compared to 10 bias crimes reported through the entire year of 2016 (according to Koin 6 News). Some community members living with disabilities, LGBTQIA folks, those perceived as Muslim, immigrants and refugees have been attacked verbally or/and physically and there has been a rise in hate graffiti and other vandalism. Experiencing or seeing an act of hate can be terrifying but can also be an opportunity to use compassion and to open hearts.
Kerns, Montavilla and Creston-Kenilworth Neighborhood Associations have taken action by making statements, organized community forums and speaking out publicly condemning recent attacks on targeted communities in Portland. SE Uplift, Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods and Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. have signed on to Portland United Against Hate (PUAH) public statement and continue to do the shared work with PUAH in mobilizing to improve reporting and tracking of hateful acts and support communities in need.
What You Can Do
Get Informed & Intervene
- Starting July 11th, Don’t Shoot Portland is hosting a series of bystander intervention trainings
- Race Talks is holding an event on July 11th on protecting yourself physically and emotionally in trying times
- On July 31st, YWCA is hosting a social justice training on practical allyship
- Resolutions NW hosts numerous trainings, including an Interrupting Racism Actionshop in October.
- The People’s Institute Northwest is hosting 2-day workshops on undoing racism in July, September, and November in Portland.
Report
- Report the emergency to law enforcement by calling 911. The city of Portland has a division for assaults and bias crimes.
- Hate crimes can also be anonymously reported to the Oregon Department of Justice, however using their form is not a substitute for filing a police report with federal, state and local law enforcement.
- The Oregon Coalition Against Hate Crime also collects hate crime incidents, even if you have not reported them to authorities, and they keep reports confidential. They can also connect people to available resources.
- ProPublica in January organized a coalition of media outlets, civil-rights groups and schools called Documenting Hate, which is also collecting reports of hate crime.
- If you find hate graffiti, please cover it and report it either online via PDXReport.org, by email to graffiti@portlandoregon.gov, or by calling the ONI Graffiti Hotline (503-823-4824) or Police Non-Emergency (503-823-3333).
Volunteer & Build Community
- Saturday, July 8th: Portland International Muslim Cultural Festival
- Thursday, July 13th: Immigrant and Refugee Unity Potluck and Ride
- Saturday, July 22nd: PDX World Refugee Day
- Check out some of our previous articles to learn about other great organizations working on combating hate and how to get involved.
By: Mireaya Medina
Community Outreach Coordinator, SE Uplift
(503) 232-0010 ext. 314
mireaya@seuplift.org