PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A local campaign aimed at tackling hate head-on launched Tuesday night during a collaborative community event and vigil.
A variety of community groups are part of the Portland United Against Hate campaign, which involves building a “rapid response system”, reporting and tracking hateful acts and providing support and protection to members of the community.
Dozens of people attended Tuesday’s event at Da Vinci Middle School to learn about the campaign and the new website The No Hate Zone.
“The goal is to lessen hate and racism by bringing people together to understand each other, to embrace each other,” website creator Sam Sachs said. “We can set a different precedence and we can set a standard for change.”
Last month, a swastika was painted on a family’s driveway in Northeast Portland. In early February, 2 Eugene businesses were tagged with the same sign.
Those involved in the campaign hope to make hate crimes a thing of the past.
“Our bold and intentional collaborative efforts are designed to protect communities from hate and proactively, create a strong base of support, provide the tools and resources to combat oppression, prosper economically and thrive collectively.” – Portland United Against Hate
The partnership includes participation from the following groups:
- Africa House
- Asian Family Center
- Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon
- Causa Oregon
- Coalition of communities of Color
- Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization
- Latino Network
- Milagro Theater
- Native American Youth & Family Center
- North Portland Neighborhood Services
- Office of Neighborhood Involvement City of Portland
- Portland African American Leadership Forum
- Portland Two-Spirit Society
- Q Center
- Resolutions Northwest
- SE Uplift
- Unite Oregon
- Urban League of Portland
- Verde
- YWCA of Greater Portland
For more information on Portland United Against Hate, click here.