News & Commentary

Although thinking about budgets might make you feel sleepy, wake up if you are interested in criminal justice reform. Because changing the budget helps change the goals and expected outcomes for the DA office. This is a powerful way to help leverage real change within the system.

Washington County civil rights advocates flocked to the Hillsboro Civic Center auditorum Saturday morning for the Washington County district attorney candidate forum, hosted by the ACLU of Oregon, Unite Oregon, and the Coalition of Communities of Color.

For the first time in 46 years, Washington County has a contested district attorney race. Kevin Barton and Max Wall are running to replace retiring DA Bob Hermann. The new DA will become the most important criminal justice figure in Oregon’s second largest county.

I was arrested, handcuffed, and jailed, because officers said I lied about who I was. Prosecutors, who could have closed the book on this traumatizing incident weeks ago, are continuing to go after me in criminal court because I told the police the only name I’ve gone by my entire life.

We are getting involved in Ana’s case because we believe her rights were violated, as well as those of everyone else who is subject to suspicionless searches from police under the guise of Trimet enforcement.

This week, we welcomed Michael German, a former FBI agent and current fellow with the Brennan Center for Justice, to Portland to discuss problems with the Portland Police Bureau’s membership in the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).

When President Trump’s FCC gutted net neutrality regulations, it left a massive wound to the free and open internet nationally. A state law in Oregon signed by the governor today, is an essential Oregon-sized bandage to that federally-induced wound.

By filing these lawsuits, we want to send a clear message: Portland Police must end its disproportionate response to protests, commit to using safe and effective tactics of de-escalation, and respect the basic human rights of all people.