News & Commentary

Protest is critical to a functioning democracy. In a city that prides itself on free expression, progressive politics, and democratic values, it should not be a surprise to anyone that Portland has seen a significant increase in First Amendment activity since the 2016 election. What should surprise everyone is the severe response of City of Portland and the Portland Police Bureau toward these protests.

Take Action: The JTTF entangles local officers in surveillance and police practices that violate the state laws that protect Oregonians from being targeted based on our political, religious, or social views, or based on our real or perceived immigration status.

ICE detainees ended their hunger strike at NORCOR jail in The Dalles after ICE officials promised improvements.

ICE detainees at NORCOR began a second hunger strike to protest conditions at the county jail in The Dalles.

Last month, a group of football players at Westview High School in Beaverton were publicly berated by their coach at their game for kneeling during the national anthem. The coach said he thought their act of protest was disrespectful to the country and to the military. He said that high school players didn’t have a platform like professional football players did and encouraged them to act as a team. At a subsequent game, the coach had the players lock arms to “stand in unity” rather than kneel. In both of these instances, the students’ rights to free speech and expression were violated.

VICTORY! A settlement has been reached on behalf of our client Michalle Wright, a transgender prisoner who was subjected to cruel treatment and repeatedly denied medical care in Oregon's prison system.

In May, we teamed up with the Lewis and Clark Criminal Justice Reform Clinic to file a lawsuit on behalf of Terri Carlisle, a 60-year-old woman who was denied medication and subjected to foul conditions and cruel treatment in the Douglas County jail. Terri shares the story of her incarceration.

Cristina Alonso, a 22-year-old college student from Spain, planned to visit Oregon for six weeks this summer. Instead, border agents sent her to NORCOR jail in the The Dalles for over 48 hours. Her friend, Professor Laurie Bridges, shares the shocking story.

Our legal observers have been monitoring ICE activity at Washington County Court for months. Last week, as an interfaith vigil against ICE arrests at the courthouse was going on steps away, plainclothes agents surrounded a Latino man and started to harass him and his wife.