On Saturday, May 24, 2025, racial justice organization Brown Hope led a rally in Portland called “We Are The Bridge: Rise for Racial Justice.” The purpose of this event was to remember the five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder and continue the movement for Black Lives. ACLU of Oregon’s Executive Director Sandy Chung spoke at the event.
Hello Portland.
I’m Sandy Chung, she/her pronouns. I am the Executive Director of the ACLU of Oregon.
The ACLU of Oregon is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. We defend and advance democracy, civil liberties, and civil rights, with more than 46,000 members and donor supporters across Oregon.
During 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, Portlanders — many of you — came out to protest for more than 100 nights straight. You all demanded that police stop their unjust violence towards our Black neighbors.
I want to recognize what was accomplished. As a result of Black leadership supported by the activism of everyday people, 82% of Portland voters said yes to creating the Community Board for Police Accountability. 82% yes votes on a ballot measure is virtually unheard of.
The Portland police union is so fearful of this community accountability board that they tried to roll it back last year. But, the ACLU has a saying: “See you in court.” Led by the Rev. Dr. Leroy Haynes, Jr., the ACLU of Oregon saw the Portland police union in court, and we stopped their attempt to roll back police accountability in Portland.
While we recognize what has been accomplished thus far, we also know there is much more work and change to do. This is why we are all here today.
We are here because politicians — both Republicans and Democrats — keep expanding the police state and mass incarceration, and this system of injustice is especially weaponized against Black, Brown, and Indigenous people and low-income people.
Right now, Trump, his billionaire cronies, and his lap dogs are waging a war against everyday people. They are trying to create a fascist, totalitarian state — where they have total control over our bodies and lives. And they are increasingly using federal and local police for their agenda of control.
Trump and Trump wannabes across the US are using federal and local law enforcement to harass, kidnap, and imprison immigrants and refugees, peace and Palestinian freedom activists, people speaking up for democracy, racial justice activists, parents of trans kids, women who’ve had miscarriages, doctors who provide abortion care, and more.
So, when you are out here today fighting for racial justice and police accountability — you are also fighting to stop fascism and fighting for democracy.
Portland, I have two specific asks:
1. This is the first. Right now, there are state lawmakers in Oregon who are aggressively pushing forward a bill — SB 238A — to give police the power to spy on us with drones without court oversight. The ACLU of Oregon policy team was successful in stopping this bill last week by getting enough lawmakers to say no to it. But the bill’s main sponsors are sending the bill to another committee to try to push it forward.
Portland, are we going to let cops spy on protestors, immigrants, abortion clinics, and all of us with their drones? No!
Yes! We need to say no! We need you to go to aclu-or.org and sign up for our email list — so we can let you know when and how to contact state lawmakers to say “heck no” to this drone spying bill. Please also follow the ACLU of Oregon on social media like instagram and bluesky where we will also share action updates.
TAKE ACTION: TELL LAWMAKERS TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY!
2. This is my second ask. Right now, Trump is trying to bully several communities he perceives as more vulnerable. One of these communities is the trans community. Why is Trump doing this? He is trying to bully and scare us into silence and complicity — and to not support our trans neighbors and loved ones.
Portland, are we going to let Trump bully our trans neighbors and loved ones? No!
Yes! Please say no by supporting our Equal Rights for All ballot measure campaign. The goal of this campaign is to affirm abortion and reproductive health rights like IVF, trans rights and related healthcare decisions, and sexual orientation and same-gender marriage in the Oregon Constitution. At its core, this campaign is about affirming personal autonomy and self-determination for all Oregonians regardless of our sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation. We are gathering signatures today to get this on the ballot. Please look for people gathering signatures and provide a signature if you are an Oregon voter. Also, please go to www.equalrightsoregon.com and sign up to get updates and volunteer.
Thank you Portland for continuing to stand up for racial justice and for our Black neighbors, friends, and family.
To end, let us chant these words together and continue to follow these words as a call to action: No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace.
