ACTION ALERTS

What: Unity Rally
Who: Open to the public
When: January 8, 2005 at 1:00 PM
Where: Multnomah Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy
Action: Come to the Unity Rally and show your support

"Every act of hatred should be met with an act of love and unity." 
http://www.tolerance.org/

Dear Portland Oregon Community Members:

I am sorry to tell you that an organized hate group from the Portland metro area plans to distribute racist flyers in several neighborhoods in Southwest Portland on January 8th, 2005. They plan to meet at a park, and then they will branch out into the surrounding neighborhoods, passing out flyers that denigrate many minority groups. 

This hate group's activity gives us a wonderful opportunity to reaffirm our shared values and show that hate is not welcome here. I hope that you will join us in our efforts to demonstrate that our community honors the dignity and worth of all people, regardless of the color of their skin, their religion, their sexual orientation, or their gender! 

How is the community responding?

Multiple community organizations are sponsoring a big Unity Rally on Saturday, January 8th, 2005, at 1:00pm. There will be speakers (including community and government leaders), music, a kids' activity room, and a display of signs & banners promoting justice and understanding. 

In addition, about a week before the Unity Rally, the Portland City Council will be considering a resolution titled, "Promote justice and denounce hate in the City of Portland."

Where is the Unity Rally?

The Unity Rally will take place at the Multnomah Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy. The Multnomah Center is on bus lines #44 PPC Sylvania and #45 Garden Home. By car, take the Multnomah Blvd exit off of I-5 South, turn right on 34th, turn right on Capitol Hwy. For directions from other starting points, go to www.mapquest.com http://www.mapquest.com/

Why not confront the hate group directly?

Concerned community members are asked not to seek out and confront the hate group as they distribute their flyers. To do so would give them attention and publicity they do not deserve. The Unity Rally is a safer, more powerful, and more positive statement than a shouting match with members of the hate group. Unity, not hate, will be the story of the day on January 8th.

How can I get involved?

Join us at the Unity Rally--we want to make a big statement about what this community stands for! Bring with you a sign, banner, or button showing how you feel about tolerance and understanding.

Display the attached window poster in your front window. We hope every house in Southwest Portland and beyond will display the poster. When the hate group is distributing their flyers, they will see the signs and know they are not supported in their views. Print off extra copies of the poster and share them with your friend and neighbors. Within the next few days, the PDF of the poster will be available for downloading at www.swni.org http://www.swni.org/ and at www.portlandonline.com/oni http://www.portlandonline.com/oni

Help spread the word. Forward this email and the attachments to anyone you think might be interested. For your friends and neighbors who don't have email, print out the message and attachments.

Talk to your kids about the importance of accepting and celebrating our differences. See www.tolerance.org <http://www.tolerance.org/> , a website of the Southern Poverty Law Center, for some ideas on how to start the conversation.

I am a Southwest resident. What should I do if I receive the hate flyers or have contact with the members of the hate group?

The Portland Police are well aware of the hate group's plans for the day and will be monitoring the situation to keep the neighborhoods safe.

If you see the hate group distributing their flyers, avoid contact if possible. If you cannot avoid contact, avoid confrontation, no matter how upset you are about what they are doing. Try to keep any interaction neutral and low-key. Disengage from the conversation. If you feel you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

If the flyer you receive contains any direct threats of violence against you personally, save it and call the police non-emergency number, 503-823-3333. Before you call, talk to your neighbors to establish if the flyer really was aimed at you personally.

Did your neighbors receive the same exact flyer?

If the flyer you receive contains any general threats of violence, save it and call Stephanie Reynolds at 503-823-3131, or Officer Scott Westerman at 503-823-0235. They will collect the information and turn it over to the appropriate units at the Police Bureau.

Otherwise, there is no need to contact the police. The hate group has indicated that they would like to generate many calls to the police. For this reason, only contact the police if laws are being broken or someone's life or health is in danger. You can destroy the hate flyer by shredding it and recycling the pieces, or by burning it in your fireplace. 

Contact Stephanie Reynolds, Crime Prevention Program Coordinator for Southwest Portland, at sreynolds@ci.portland.or.us if you have any questions.

I am a member of the media. Who is the press contact for the Unity Rally?

Emily Gottfried of the Portland Chapter of the American Jewish Committee, 503-295-6761

My organization wants to officially endorse this event. Who is collecting a list of endorsements for the Unity Rally?

Sylvia Bogert of Southwest Neighborhoods Inc, sbogert@spiritone.com 

Already endorsing the Unity Rally are: City of Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement, American Jewish Committee, Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc., Coalition Against Hate Crimes, Jewish Federation of Portland, Congregation Kol Shalom, Neighborhood House, Inc., and the Portland Chapter of Hadassah.

I want to add my support to the City Council resolution, testify before City Council about the resolution, or simply attend that session. 

How do I find out when that session of City Council will take place?

Contact Sylvia Bogert of Southwest Neighborhoods Inc, sbogert@spiritone.com, and ask to be placed on an email notification list.

Have questions not covered by the above categories?

Contact Emily Gottfried at portland@ajc.org