This is a speech by Sandy Chung, Executive Director of the ACLU of Oregon, at the “No Troops On Our Streets” rally in Portland on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
Hello Oregonians!
My name is Sandy Chung. My pronouns are she and her. I am the Executive Director of the ACLU of Oregon.
The ACLU of Oregon’s mission is to defend and advance our democracy, civil liberties, and civil rights. We have more than 48,000 members and donor supporters across Oregon. As you can see, Oregonians love the Constitution!
Democracy is important to me — it is a core part of my personal history. My family and I immigrated from South Korea to the U.S. in the early 1980s. At that time, South Korea was ruled by a military dictator. In 1980, my parents became profoundly disillusioned with their country after the government suppressed pro-democracy protests in a city called Kwangju by having South Korean troops arrest, jail, and even kill protestors, including many college students who were leading the movement. Kwangju, you see, is my dad’s hometown. Even after Kwangju, the people of South Korea continued to oppose dictatorship, and they were able to build a strong democratic country.
However, in December 2024, about a month after President Trump’s re-election, then President Yoon of South Korea tried to repeat history and become a dictator. He declared martial law. In response, South Korean lawmakers climbed the walls of their parliamentary building — and blocked their doors from Yoon’s henchman — to pass an emergency law stopping Yoon from his dictator dreams. At the same time, millions of South Koreans took to the streets and peacefully protested to protect their democracy. In April of this year, Yoon’s impeachment was finalized when all eight justices on South Korea’s Constitutional Court affirmed the impeachment.
I share with you South Korea’s story because we — the people of the United States — are not alone in our struggle for democracy – and in our struggle to keep military troops off our streets. And, as we see from South Korea’s story, we can resist presidents who want to be dictators. And we can win.
We know that Trump’s deployment of the military is about political theater, not community safety or community care. He wants to divert people’s attention away from a federal budget bill that gives tax cuts to billionaires, while devastating communities across our country with deep cuts to essential services like health care and education, while sending ICE billions more dollars so ICE can carry out his cruel, chaotic, and unfair mass deportations.
When we show up for our democracy by being united and peacefully protesting together, we are standing together to protect the heart of our country:
- Trump wants a country ruled by greed, corruption, and control. We strive for justice, fairness, and freedom.
- Trump creates hate and division. We cultivate care and collaboration.
- Trump emboldens billionaires. We empower everyday people.
- Trump is a bully. We stand up to bullies – and we stop them.
- President Trump, I have a direct message for you. Do not send military troops to Oregon. If you do, you are abusing your power, you are disrespecting and misusing our service members, and you are wasting our tax monies for nonsense. What you are doing is unAmerican and undemocratic.
In America, Dissent is Patriotic!
At the ACLU, we have a saying: “See you in court.” President Trump, in the past nine months, the ACLU has filed more than 100 legal challenges against your administration’s unlawful, cruel actions. Whenever your administration engages in unjust, harmful actions against Oregonians and Americans, we will see you in the courts and peacefully on the streets to protect our democracy.
Everyone, thank you for showing up for democracy and standing up for our communities with courage, intentionality, and community care. In Oregon, we take care of us!
Thank you for your solidarity!
Thank you! Everyone, before handing the mic to the next speaker, I want to shout out the PIRC - which stands for Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition. The PIRC Hotline who has been the heart of our rapid response system protecting immigrant and refugee Oregonians. PIRC folks - where are you?
Here are some requests from PIRC if you see or very strongly suspect ICE or federal agents are in our community.
- Take out your phones right now: Add the hotline in your phone 1 (888) 622-1510. Share the number with 3 people you know.
- If you suspect ICE or federal agents are harassing or detaining our neighbors, or if you see agents staying at a particular hotel or are, call PIRC number and make sure you are CLEAR in what you report to the hotline
- CLEAR stands for count, location, equipment, activity and time.
- Please don’t share rumors you hear online without it being verified. Every time a rumor goes viral, it terrifies community members for no good reason.
- Everyone, make sure to stop by the PIRC table here.
And my final request, go to PIRCOregon.org and donate at the level you are able. PIRC is mostly volunteer led and they need all the support we can give them!
Thank you!
