CONGRESS MUST ACT TO GET TRUMP’S PRIVATE ARMY OUT OF PORTLAND
ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because Trump’s militarized DHS forces who have invaded Portland are acting without restraint or accountability. They are suppressing free speech and terrorizing peaceful protesters. I want to thank the senator for demanding that DHS forces leave our streets, and for adding legislation added to the NDAA to increase accountability of federal officers. But I am asking for more. Every night that the DHS continues to march on Portland streets, more people are endangered. I am asking for action to get them out of Portland now. And I am asking him to work to defund DHS. They have become a dangerously militarized force with few restraints and too much power.
CALL SENATOR MERKLEY
CALL SENATOR WYDEN
ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR HOUSE REPS
Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here.
SAMPLE SCRIPTS FOR REPRESENTATIVES:
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
For Blumenauer and Bonamici: Trump’s militarized DHS forces who have invaded Portland are acting without restraint or accountability. They are suppressing free speech and terrorizing peaceful protesters. I want to thank the representative for demanding that DHS forces leave our streets and speaking out against Trump’s abuse of power. But I am asking for more. Every night that the DHS continues to march on Portland streets, more people are endangered. I am asking for action to get them out of Portland now. And I am asking him/her to work to defund DHS. They have become a dangerously militarized force with few restraints and too much power.
For Walden, Schrader, and DeFazio: Trump’s militarized DHS forces who have invaded Portland are acting without restraint or accountability. They are suppressing free speech and terrorizing peaceful protesters. I’m saddened that my representative has remained silent. We are all Oregonians and Americans. I am asking him to join his Oregon colleagues to speak out against Trump’s abuse of power and demand that the DHS get out of Portland now. I am asking for action to get them out of Portland now. And I am asking him/her to work to defund DHS. They have become a dangerously militarized force with few restraints and too much power.
CALL SUZANNE BONAMICI (OR-01)
CALL GREG WALDEN (OR-02)
CALL BLUMENAUER (OR-03)
CALL PETER DEFAZIO (OR-04)
CALL KURT SCHRADER (OR-05)
ACTION THREE: CALL YOUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEMAND ACTION NOW.
Mayor Ted Wheeler phone: 503-823-4120 Trump’s militarized DHS forces who have invaded Portland are acting without restraint or accountability. They are suppressing free speech and terrorizing peaceful protesters. I want to thank the mayor for calling for them to leave and speaking out against Trump’s abuse of power. However, Portland police are continuing to work with the federal officers occupying our city, and this must stop now. And it’s time to take real, meaningful action to address the police violence and brutality particularly against people of color in this city that have made protests necessary.
Governor Kate Brown phone: 503-378-4582 Trump’s militarized DHS forces who have invaded Portland are acting without restraint or accountability. They are suppressing free speech and terrorizing peaceful protesters. I want to thank the governor for calling for them to leave and speaking out against Trump’s abuse of power. But I am asking for more. Every night that the DHS continues to march on Portland streets, more people are endangered. I am asking for real action to get DHS forces out of Portland now. And action necessary, up to and including use of the Oregon National Guard, to protect all Oregonians on the streets of Portland.
BACKGROUND:
In June, Trump had the Attorney General of the United States assemble a force of militarized federal forces to violently force peaceful protesters from Lafayette Park. It was to facilitate his desire for a political photo-op.
The lack of a forceful response from Congress has emboldened Trump to land his DHS forces in the streets of Portland as he indulges in more political posturing. At best they are here to serve Trump’s re-election campaign. At worst they are here as an expansion of his authoritarian powers at the cost of our democracy.
Not only are they in our city with no invitation, they are here with no accountability and very little restraint. They move through our streets in unmarked vans and wearing unmarked military camouflage. They grab people off of the streets for questioning. They fire into crowds using munitions that courts have restricted Portland police from using. They injure peaceful protesters and fill our streets with tear gas and pepper spray. They are not wanted here, and they have been asked to leave by our elected officials. They refuse.
Portland is the first city to be occupied by Trump’s jackboots. If he’s not stopped, it won’t be the last.
