On this day, July 27, 2020, the mayors of Portland, Oregon, and five other major US cities appealed to Congress to make it illegal for the federal government to deploy militarized agents to cities that don't want their presence.
Also on this day, July 27, 2020, US agents declared an unlawful assembly, and just after 1 a.m., confronted protesters on the street and worked for hours to clear the area. Several people were seen being detained, but it was not immediately clear how many may were arrested.
Also on this day, June 27, 1859 US General William S. Harney sent troops to San Juan island -- in what is now Washington State -- to face the British in the Pig War, which was a dispute started by a British pig eating potatoes out of an American farmer's field.
Schmidt has been criticized for being soft on drug crime
Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt has announced that the Multnomah County DA’s Office has received $300,000 in supplemental grant dollars to fund a dedicated bias crimes investigator. Funding was awarded to MCDA by the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program. MCDA previously received a $400,000 grant to partially fund a bias crimes prosecutor, bringing the total amount awarded to $700,000.
The DA’s bias crimes investigator will work with the bias crimes prosecutor, Deputy DA Charlie Weiss, on increased investigations, community outreach, education, and overall efforts to overcome barriers to reporting and identifying bias crimes. MCDA has filled the position, and the start date was December 18, 2023.
“Addressing bias crimes and helping repair the damage of these crimes to victims and communities is a top priority for me and my office,” said DA Mike Schmidt. “This funding will allow us to increase and improve our investigations, which will ultimately result in more prosecution, accountability for perpetrators, and justice for victims of bias crimes.” Schmidt is currently
running for re-election as Multnomah County District Attorney.
“Hate and discrimination have no place in our communities,” said DA Schmidt. “I am pleased that this grant award will allow us to dedicate a prosecutor to effectively address bias crimes, which have a disproportionate ripple effect on our communities. The grant allows for a more proactive approach to address community concerns and advocate for people who have been victims of bias crimes to come forward so that we can hold perpetrators accountable.” Schmidt has
been criticized by some for being soft on drug crime -- a concern cited by the Portland Central City Task Force in their
recent report.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
“It’s no secret that there’s been a surge in bias crimes and incidents across the country, and Multnomah County is not immune to that,” said Deputy DA Weiss. “It’s important that we meet people where they are, that we work with community partners to address bias issues head on, and that we stand together in saying that hate is not part of who we are as Oregonians.”
To report bias incidents to a confidential advocate, contact the Oregon DOJ Bias Response Hotline at StandAgainstHate.Oregon.gov or 1-844-924-BIAS (2427). Community members can report in any language, and the hotline accepts all Relay calls. Emergencies should be reported to 911.
--Staff Reports| Post Date: 2023-12-21 16:00:26 | |
