Media Releases

Protect Oregon Issues Statement in Response to Another Fatal Shooting by Federal Agents in Minneapolis, Increasing ICE Brutality

OREGON — Protect Oregon members issued a statement in response to federal agents reportedly shooting and killing a man in Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 24th:

“This morning, federal agents reportedly shot and killed a man in Minneapolis — just one day after thousands of Minnesotans and people across the country took to the streets to peacefully exercise their constitutional right to protest this administration’s campaign of terror. As we learn more about what happened, one thing is painfully clear: Masked, untrained federal agents are unleashing more chaos and violence in our streets, shooting and killing community members and acting with increasing impunity.

These agents must be held accountable, and it is past time for them to leave our communities. From using a 5-year-old as bait on the streets of Minneapolis to detaining a Gresham family seeking medical care for their child in Portland, ICE agents are ripping families and communities apart and putting all of us in danger. Their brutality must end.

Oregon stands with Minnesota, and we will respond as we have every time this administration has abused its power: By standing in solidarity with our immigrant and refugee neighbors, by peacefully exercising our right to protest, and by supporting one another with compassion and strength."

Protect Oregon members include ACLU of Oregon, Rural Organizing Project, Northwest Health Foundation, Western States Center, PCUN, Oregon Donor Alliance, Coalition of Communities of Color, SEIU 503, and more.

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Protect Oregon Reacts to Federal Agents Shooting Two People in Portland

OREGON — Protect Oregon members issued a statement in response to federal agents shooting two people in Portland on Thursday, Jan. 8:

"We are closely monitoring devastating reports that federal agents shot two people in Portland today. While details are still emerging, we are outraged and heartbroken by what appears to be escalating violence against our communities. Just a day after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, we are deeply troubled by federal agents’ pattern of aggression, impunity, and violence. We are calling for an independent and transparent investigation that fully involves state and local officials and for ICE to immediately pause all operations in Oregon.

The presence of immigration agencies in our communities puts all of us in danger. We stand with our immigrant and refugee neighbors, vital and loved members of our communities who have been cruelly attacked by this administration, and we are committed to peacefully protesting and resisting this gross and violent abuse of power. As we did when our communities were threatened with an illegal military deployment to our streets, we will come together with compassion and strength. We refuse to be divided or let state violence be normalized. "

Protect Oregon members include ACLU of Oregon, Rural Organizing Project, Northwest Health Foundation, Western States Center, PCUN, Oregon Donor Alliance, Coalition of Communities of Color, SEIU 503, and more.

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Protect Oregon Issues Statement in Response to Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis

OREGON — Protect Oregon members issued a statement in response to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shooting and killing a woman in Minneapolis on Wednesday:

“Today in Minneapolis, an ICE agent shot and killed a woman in her car. This killing is an escalation, but not an isolated incident. It is part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern of violence, impunity, and overreach that ICE has been inflicting on communities across our country, including our immigrant & refugee communities. The shooting by federal agents also comes amid an escalating federal crackdown on constitutionally protected protest and civic organizing.

Governor Walz called on communities everywhere — including here in Portland or wherever ICE operations are coming next — to stand with Minnesota against this unnecessary violence. We heed that call.

Despite ongoing efforts from this administration to provoke chaos and violence, use dangerous and conspiratorial rhetoric, and to justify further repression in moments like this one, Oregonians across our state will respond as we always do: by peacefully marching, protesting, and supporting one another with compassion and strength. We will continue to uplift opportunities for Oregonians to resist together.”

Protect Oregon members include ACLU of Oregon, Rural Organizing Project, Northwest Health Foundation, Western States Center, PCUN, Oregon Donor Alliance, Coalition of Communities of Color, SEIU 503, and more.

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PRESS RELEASE: Protect Oregon Cheers Win for Democracy, Lauds Community’s Resilience and Resolve

OREGON — Protect Oregon members on Friday cheered a federal District Court of Oregon ruling that effectively bars deployment of the National Guard to Portland.

Since President Trump first threatened to deploy troops to Oregon, Protect Oregon members have come together to host peaceful demonstrations, support trainings and organizing events, and build solidarity in communities across the state in opposition to the military policing our communities. Below is a statement on behalf of Protect Oregon:

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“Across Oregon, our communities have peacefully and powerfully come together to make our voices heard and protect this place we call home. We have responded to the Trump administration’s attack on our democracy and misuse of our military in a profoundly Oregon way — tapping into our compassion, our creativity, and our strong sense of community and civic pride. Today’s ruling is a testament not only to the leadership of Oregon elected officials who have been determined and steady in protecting Oregon communities since day one, but also to the way Oregonians have stood strong, peaceful, and unwavering in the face of this egregious federal abuse of power. 

We have more work to do. Our immigrant and refugee neighbors are an important part of the fabric of Oregon, and they deserve to live free of harassment, violence, and fear as they work, worship, care for their families, and move through their communities. This administration's reign of unfairness, cruelty, and chaos continues, but so too does our commitment to standing up and speaking out. When we resist together, we win together.”

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