On Saturday, September 21, the ACLU of Oregon gathered with over 100 trusted community partners, advocates, and service providers from across the state for our TOGETHER Conference.
We spent the day in community, strategizing alongside organizations and individuals who work tirelessly in their communities to provide services, advocate for critical policies, and provide legal support, among other needed work, with a specific question in mind:
How do we get aligned for the upcoming presidential election and the work ahead?
Regardless of who is elected in November, we must be prepared to respond with timeliness and intentionality to the needs of our communities, especially the communities who are most vulnerable to extremist court decisions, government aggression, and regressive local, state, and federal policies.
In listening to our partners share the concerns and feedback from their communities, three key themes emerged:
1. Democracy is on the ballot this election, and we must uphold free and fair elections, while protecting voters in all stages of the voting process.
Our partners at Rural Organizing Project, Western States Center, and Common Cause Oregon shared information about intimidation, aggression, and violence related to the political engagement and voting process in Oregon. They also provided information and resources about how we can fight back against political intimidation and attempts to suppress voting in Oregon.
You can learn more about election protections and finding voting resources through Common Cause. Also, elected leaders and organizations across Oregon are encouraged to sign a pledge in support of free and fair elections and against political violence, being led by Western States Center.
2. Building sustainable rapid response networks that can mobilize on short notice to support our most vulnerable communities, particularly immigrants, refugees, and their families facing separation or deportation, is critical.
We learned about important services and resources that are available to immigrant and refugee families when they are detained by federal law enforcement like ICE. However, we also discussed that these services and resources are not enough on their own; we must help community members connect with them, help community members and their families create plans for crisis situations, and continue providing care and support for the long term impacts of these traumatic situations.
Stay tuned for more Know Your Rights information from the ACLU of Oregon for immigrant and refugee communities.
3. We keep us safe.
No one politician will save us, and no matter who is elected in November, we will have tremendous work to do to make Oregon a more just, equitable, and democratic state. The work cannot continue, however, unless we are taking care of ourselves and our communities, and engaging in mutual care. Tending to ourselves and one another, resting, and seeking out and savoring joy are all critical acts of effective resistance and movement building.
One thing remains clear: The ACLU of Oregon and its partners don’t get ready. We stay ready.
Tune in virtually to the ACLU of Oregon’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 29 and hear about how the ACLU of Oregon is prepared to move forward, no matter what comes from the election in November and after.
Gratitude to our presenting partners and sponsors.
Many thanks to our conference presenting partners: Rural Organizing Project, Western States Center, and Common Cause Oregon.
Thanks as well to our sponsors: Albies & Stark LLC, the Law Firm of Justin Rosas, LeDuc Montgomery LLC, Remy Wines, and Stoll Berne.
