Call to Action #1063: Response to Insurrectionists Highlights Police Racism (January 12, 2021)

Note: Our next monthly Zoom meeting will be on Monday, January 18, at 6:30 PM.

See you there!


Eight Days until Joe Biden and Kamala Harris take their Oaths of Office


***CALL TO ACTION***

Response to Insurrectionists Highlights Police Racism


Nearly all of the insurrectionists who desecrated the Capitol were white. As Speaker Pelosi said: “They chose their whiteness over democracy.”

US Rep. Karen Bass said if the rioters were primarily Black, “blood would have been flowing down the halls of the Capitol.” Generally, police engage even heavily armed white protesters as non-threatening. That’s true in DC and in statehouses across the country, and it’s especially true here in Oregon

That attitude may help explain why Capitol police were purposefully understaffed even as protestors earlier swore  to “take the hill or die trying.” Is racism built into policing? The harassment, brutalizing, and murders of unarmed Black Americans argues it is. 

Police are overwhelmingly (72%) white and favor Republicans. They work in a culture that stereotypes Black men as dangerous. Several law enforcement officers took part in the coup. One Black Capitol cop said his white colleagues were “catering to the rioters.” One even posed for selfies.

White violence will continue until racism is uprooted. We must fight excessive responses to racial justice protests here and across the country.


**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY AND WYDEN:

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. 

SENATOR MERKLEY:  Please thank the Senator for supporting Trump’s impeachment and removal. We must do more — quickly. I ask that he fight voter suppression and support vote-by-mail. To keep majority rule alive in our Democracy, voting must be easy and secure for all Americans. We need to remove the seditionists — including Cruz, Hawley and more than 100 House Republicans — from Congress. He can help root out police racism by supporting the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

SENATOR WYDEN: Please thank the Senator for supporting Trump’s impeachment and the removal of Senators Hawley and Cruz. We must do more. I ask that he fight voter suppression and support vote-by-mail. To keep majority rule alive in our Democracy, voting must be easy and secure for all Americans. He can help root out police racism by supporting the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Thank you.”

SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY

Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/

 

SENATOR RON WYDEN

Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/

 


**ACTION TWO: CALL “REP”* CLIFF BENTZ**

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR REPRESENTATIVE BENTZ:

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. 

Cliff Bentz’s objection to the Pennsylvania electoral vote helped fuel the coup attempt at the Capitol last week. It was a disgrace, no less so because he was only pandering to his rabid, racist constituents. He has already violated his oath of office. I demand that he resign.

Thank you.”

ORD2 Representative* Cliff Bentz

Medford: 541-776-4646

DC : 202-225-6730

Twitter: @cliffbentz

Email: As soon as we have it

* Soon to be “Complicit Cliff Bentz,” a title he earned within one week of being sworn in.


**ACTION THREE: BE AN ACTIVIST**

January 13, 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ongoing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
#MyORHealth  Support is available for Oregon’s “helpers”

Lines for Life has created a Virtual Wellness Room to offer support to helpers, mental health professionals, first responders, social workers and anyone considered an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon. Each check-in call will have a facilitator to guide the conversation.

“We at Lines for Life want to thank you for all the work you do to keep our communities safe,” the organization said. “We are offering a place for helpers to exchange stories of hope and areas of need. We especially want to hear what things are coming up for you personally and explore how we can cheer one another on to continue the good work you are already doing. We ultimately want to create space to breathe out stress and breathe in hope.”

The meetings are held using Zoom conference calls from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at this link: https://zoom.us/j/4848426773Please share this invite with anyone in your network of Oregon helpers.