Hours following the brutal murders that claimed the lives of Ricky John Best and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) worked with community organizations and leaders to issue a thoughtful, coordinated and strategic response to the killings.
The statement went viral quickly, drawing support from a broad cross-section of Portlanders, and gave voice to the shared sentiments about opportunities to address pervasive systemic and institutional issues that has given rise to the broadening appeal of alt-right and white supremacist rhetoric not only in the state of Oregon, but throughout the nation.
Since 2008, APANO has been at the forefront of progressive policy and advocacy work on behalf of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders throughout Oregon. I've been impressed with the APANO leadership's collaborative and inclusive approach to affecting change anchored by the values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
In this Q&A, APANO Director of Programs Kara Carmosino discusses the importance of taking stock of our collective loss and suffering to build meaningful partnerships to ensure a safe and welcoming Portland for all.
The response of APANO and allies to condemn the attacks was swift and wide-reaching. What were some of the lessons learned from the experience of securing support for the statement?
There are three takeaways that I and others at APANO have been reflecting on. The first is that our statement, which was authored in collaboration with other organization and community leaders, along with several news articles and commentaries by people of color in Portland, helped to highlight the connection of this violence to other occurrences and trends in Portland. APANO staff witnessed firsthand the march along 82nd Avenue, where our office is located and where many in our communities live and work, which Jeremy Christian attended. At a moment when coverage could have framed this attack as an isolated incident, the voices of community members were important to draw the links to the long-standing pattern of attacks against Muslim community members and a rising increase in hate incidents in Oregon after the election, as well as the recent deaths of Quanice Hayes and Terrell Johnson at the hands of the police, and the murder of Larnell Malik Bruce by a White supremacist last fall.
Transformative relationships between our communities are also deeply important, so that we are able to support each other, coordinate and respond with trust and context already built through our work. We know that no one organization can win the changes we want to see in the world on our own, but that it takes a movement, and that is built on relationships and long-term trusted partnerships. Part of securing support for the statement happened so quickly and organically because we are already so coordinated and in close relationship.
We at APANO are also deeply reflecting on how to keep our communities and their needs central first and foremost, especially in times like these, when there is so much fear and uncertainty. More important than any public statement is continuing to check in with our members and provide space for them to process and make sense of what is happening, and help define and direct what they need in this moment. We continue to learn from our actions and mistakes and are reflecting on how to continue to center the people we serve.
Why is it important for the Asian Pacific Islander community to rise up against white supremacy?
The experiences of our communities are rooted in the racist history of our state and our nation. If you look at Oregon’s history, it was founded as an exclusionary state that forbade Black people and other people of color from living in its borders. From the seizure of Native land to exclusionary immigration laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act, to more recent neo-Nazi organizing in the 1980s and a long history of gentrification and displacement of Black communities in Portland, we can see how White supremacy as a system has shaped our state and the experiences of communities who live here or struggled to stay. By naming this system, we also recognize that the inequities it produces are not accidental; the system was designed this way.
For Asians and Pacific Islanders, it is important that we see how White supremacy impacts us, particularly as our communities are increasingly used in “divide and conquer” strategies, with East Asian communities in particular framed as a “model minority” that serves to support the dangerous and false idea that communities of color can overcome oppression if they only work hard enough. At the same time, those in our communities who are Muslim, or undocumented, or immigrants and refugees, or queer or transgender have always been marginalized and are under increasing attack. If we do not rise up to address White supremacy, we both allow ourselves to be used to support the violence and inequalities this system produces, and we turn our backs on those in our communities who are most deeply impacted.
Recent events in Portland have also shown the challenge of this moment, in which we must acknowledge White supremacy as a deeply rooted system that runs throughout our society, while at the same time acknowledge the specific White supremacist hate groups and individuals who are actively organizing in our state. Until we name and understand the reality of organized opposition, we can’t address it, but we also can’t let that downplay our efforts to confront the other ways White supremacy as a system needs to be uprooted.
What are effective community-driven ways to ensure safety for communities threatened by racism and xenophobia?
This question is so hard to answer because we know that it is impossible to absolutely ensure safety for our communities, as much as we wish that were not the case. What I do see is communities increasingly looking to multi-faceted solutions. On one level, there are efforts like Unite Oregon’s End Profiling campaign or calls for the City of Portland to invest in community efforts to track and respond to hate crimes, which call on government policies and investments. I see communities also organizing to provide their own solutions, from teaching self-defense and bystander intervention classes to riding public transportation together or arranging ride-shares for those who feel too unsafe to take public transit, finding ways to meet our own needs. And I see communities also calling out and naming when state violence is the threat and organizing in response.
One thing we do know is that further adding police presence on TriMet will not make our communities safer. This is outlined in OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon’s statement “Against White Supremacy, Militarism and False Solutions.” Community organizations like OPAL have been doing this work for years in communities of color and are well-poised at this moment to articulate the long-term, community-driven solutions we know we need, not false solutions that ultimately make us less safe.
How is APANO holding institutions accountable to the communities they serve?
In terms of holding institutions accountable, we see ourselves as part of a network of organizations in Portland and Oregon, who are fighting for institutional change. Sometimes this looks like the grassroots advocacy we do for policy changes and around ballot measures, sometimes it looks like budget advocacy, and sometimes it is highlighting when institutions and government agencies are not working with our communities.
The truth is that we need to be vigilant around how much institutions are or aren’t working for us. There’s a recent example where community leader and State Representative Diego Hernandez was temporarily removed from the Ways and Means education subcommittee when he signaled he would vote against the education budget, as the budget would continue to cut school funding. We need more representation like Rep. Hernandez who are part of the communities they serve and willing to take on brave stances rooted in their values. At the same time, there are instances like last Sunday’s rally that invited out-of-state White supremacists to speak in Portland, when police forces surrounding the rally were facing outward to protect them from the community groups gathered to oppose their presence and the beliefs they were espousing. There are photos of a member of the Oath Keepers, a far-right, anti-government organization named by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an extremist group, helping a police officer restrain and arrest a protester. We need to be honest with our communities about when institutions do not represent us and are not accountable to us, and work together to campaign for change.
From APANO's vantage point, what can Portlanders do to continue to support each other at this time of grief?
Of course, we need to take care of ourselves and each other in this moment. In the immediate aftermath, for some, that looked like showing up to vigils and reaching out to friends and family. For others, that looked like providing rides and resources to those who felt unsafe taking public transportation, or reaching out for support. For others, it also included donating to the families of those who were killed, the young man who survived and the two young Black women who were the targets of the harassment.
We know this work is long-term and that we must be prepared for that. For those who are connected to organizations, now is an important time to lean in, find a place to engage and figure out how to contribute to the work. For those who are not, this is an opportunity to join an organization—it doesn’t have to be a non-profit—and a political home, where you can engage. We believe that it will take organizing for collective action and movement building to truly shift the balance of power and elevate and win community-driven solutions.
And for White Portlanders, this is a moment for reflection and, hopefully, action. On my way to the Portland Stands United Against Hate rally this Sunday, we went by a popular brunch spot and saw a line of people around the block waiting to get in. While this is a common occurrence and it really shouldn’t have surprised me, I found it incredibly jarring. Yes, there were many people for whom public rallies are not a safe or feasible avenue for action, which of course is valid and important to highlight, and there were understandable safety concerns. That said, there were also many White people in this city who did not even consider going and what it would mean to not show up, for whom waiting in line for brunch was far more important than confronting the presence of White supremacists in the city. There is significant work to do. I do see many people around me reflecting on the history of this city and this state, and confronting their role in it. We hope this is a jumping off point for long-term engagement in that conversation and that struggle.
The statement went viral quickly, drawing support from a broad cross-section of Portlanders, and gave voice to the shared sentiments about opportunities to address pervasive systemic and institutional issues that has given rise to the broadening appeal of alt-right and white supremacist rhetoric not only in the state of Oregon, but throughout the nation.
Since 2008, APANO has been at the forefront of progressive policy and advocacy work on behalf of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders throughout Oregon. I've been impressed with the APANO leadership's collaborative and inclusive approach to affecting change anchored by the values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
In this Q&A, APANO Director of Programs Kara Carmosino discusses the importance of taking stock of our collective loss and suffering to build meaningful partnerships to ensure a safe and welcoming Portland for all.
The response of APANO and allies to condemn the attacks was swift and wide-reaching. What were some of the lessons learned from the experience of securing support for the statement?
 |
| Kara Carmosino, Director of Programs Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon |
Transformative relationships between our communities are also deeply important, so that we are able to support each other, coordinate and respond with trust and context already built through our work. We know that no one organization can win the changes we want to see in the world on our own, but that it takes a movement, and that is built on relationships and long-term trusted partnerships. Part of securing support for the statement happened so quickly and organically because we are already so coordinated and in close relationship.
We at APANO are also deeply reflecting on how to keep our communities and their needs central first and foremost, especially in times like these, when there is so much fear and uncertainty. More important than any public statement is continuing to check in with our members and provide space for them to process and make sense of what is happening, and help define and direct what they need in this moment. We continue to learn from our actions and mistakes and are reflecting on how to continue to center the people we serve.
Why is it important for the Asian Pacific Islander community to rise up against white supremacy?
The experiences of our communities are rooted in the racist history of our state and our nation. If you look at Oregon’s history, it was founded as an exclusionary state that forbade Black people and other people of color from living in its borders. From the seizure of Native land to exclusionary immigration laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act, to more recent neo-Nazi organizing in the 1980s and a long history of gentrification and displacement of Black communities in Portland, we can see how White supremacy as a system has shaped our state and the experiences of communities who live here or struggled to stay. By naming this system, we also recognize that the inequities it produces are not accidental; the system was designed this way.
For Asians and Pacific Islanders, it is important that we see how White supremacy impacts us, particularly as our communities are increasingly used in “divide and conquer” strategies, with East Asian communities in particular framed as a “model minority” that serves to support the dangerous and false idea that communities of color can overcome oppression if they only work hard enough. At the same time, those in our communities who are Muslim, or undocumented, or immigrants and refugees, or queer or transgender have always been marginalized and are under increasing attack. If we do not rise up to address White supremacy, we both allow ourselves to be used to support the violence and inequalities this system produces, and we turn our backs on those in our communities who are most deeply impacted.
Recent events in Portland have also shown the challenge of this moment, in which we must acknowledge White supremacy as a deeply rooted system that runs throughout our society, while at the same time acknowledge the specific White supremacist hate groups and individuals who are actively organizing in our state. Until we name and understand the reality of organized opposition, we can’t address it, but we also can’t let that downplay our efforts to confront the other ways White supremacy as a system needs to be uprooted.
What are effective community-driven ways to ensure safety for communities threatened by racism and xenophobia?
This question is so hard to answer because we know that it is impossible to absolutely ensure safety for our communities, as much as we wish that were not the case. What I do see is communities increasingly looking to multi-faceted solutions. On one level, there are efforts like Unite Oregon’s End Profiling campaign or calls for the City of Portland to invest in community efforts to track and respond to hate crimes, which call on government policies and investments. I see communities also organizing to provide their own solutions, from teaching self-defense and bystander intervention classes to riding public transportation together or arranging ride-shares for those who feel too unsafe to take public transit, finding ways to meet our own needs. And I see communities also calling out and naming when state violence is the threat and organizing in response.
One thing we do know is that further adding police presence on TriMet will not make our communities safer. This is outlined in OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon’s statement “Against White Supremacy, Militarism and False Solutions.” Community organizations like OPAL have been doing this work for years in communities of color and are well-poised at this moment to articulate the long-term, community-driven solutions we know we need, not false solutions that ultimately make us less safe.
 |
| Copyright 2017 | Joe Frazier Photography |
In terms of holding institutions accountable, we see ourselves as part of a network of organizations in Portland and Oregon, who are fighting for institutional change. Sometimes this looks like the grassroots advocacy we do for policy changes and around ballot measures, sometimes it looks like budget advocacy, and sometimes it is highlighting when institutions and government agencies are not working with our communities.
The truth is that we need to be vigilant around how much institutions are or aren’t working for us. There’s a recent example where community leader and State Representative Diego Hernandez was temporarily removed from the Ways and Means education subcommittee when he signaled he would vote against the education budget, as the budget would continue to cut school funding. We need more representation like Rep. Hernandez who are part of the communities they serve and willing to take on brave stances rooted in their values. At the same time, there are instances like last Sunday’s rally that invited out-of-state White supremacists to speak in Portland, when police forces surrounding the rally were facing outward to protect them from the community groups gathered to oppose their presence and the beliefs they were espousing. There are photos of a member of the Oath Keepers, a far-right, anti-government organization named by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an extremist group, helping a police officer restrain and arrest a protester. We need to be honest with our communities about when institutions do not represent us and are not accountable to us, and work together to campaign for change.
From APANO's vantage point, what can Portlanders do to continue to support each other at this time of grief?
Of course, we need to take care of ourselves and each other in this moment. In the immediate aftermath, for some, that looked like showing up to vigils and reaching out to friends and family. For others, that looked like providing rides and resources to those who felt unsafe taking public transportation, or reaching out for support. For others, it also included donating to the families of those who were killed, the young man who survived and the two young Black women who were the targets of the harassment.
We know this work is long-term and that we must be prepared for that. For those who are connected to organizations, now is an important time to lean in, find a place to engage and figure out how to contribute to the work. For those who are not, this is an opportunity to join an organization—it doesn’t have to be a non-profit—and a political home, where you can engage. We believe that it will take organizing for collective action and movement building to truly shift the balance of power and elevate and win community-driven solutions.
And for White Portlanders, this is a moment for reflection and, hopefully, action. On my way to the Portland Stands United Against Hate rally this Sunday, we went by a popular brunch spot and saw a line of people around the block waiting to get in. While this is a common occurrence and it really shouldn’t have surprised me, I found it incredibly jarring. Yes, there were many people for whom public rallies are not a safe or feasible avenue for action, which of course is valid and important to highlight, and there were understandable safety concerns. That said, there were also many White people in this city who did not even consider going and what it would mean to not show up, for whom waiting in line for brunch was far more important than confronting the presence of White supremacists in the city. There is significant work to do. I do see many people around me reflecting on the history of this city and this state, and confronting their role in it. We hope this is a jumping off point for long-term engagement in that conversation and that struggle.
 |
| Photo Credit: Oregonlive.com | All Rights Reserved |