Organizing, Organizing, Organizing Leads the Way!
We did it! A wave of frontline leadership made a strong statement yesterday that as Oregonians we do not accept hate towards our communities and that we have the right to build the new! It is the right thing to do, and we have very right to do it! We defeated Measure 105 and OJTA members in Portland passed the Portland Clean Energy Initiative. We showed that when frontline communities lead the way we have better results all across the board.
We showed that we are unstoppable and another world is possible- a world that doesn’t leave anyone behind. One that is welcoming to everyone regardless of the color of your skin. The defeat of Measure 105 showed that despite the anti-immigrant rhetoric we hear on the news, the voices of those who stood against hate and with our immigrant communities were louder, mobilized others, and won. This is a victory and we must celebrate, but we must also continue to work towards the decriminalization of our communities regardless of immigration status. One’s documentation should not dictate how one is able to move in our world. There will be more attacks coming. We must take this victory, learn from our success, and be prepared for whatever comes next, always keeping in mind the safety of our immigrant communities.
In this election we did not just fight against what we do not want. We held strong to our vision of a more regenerative economy, one that uplifts those most impacted by climate change, economic exploitation and white supremacy. We changed the rules to build wealth and power for our communities. A frontline-led coalition passed the Portland Clean Energy Initiative, which will generate $30 million annually for green jobs, clean energy, and lower utility bills for our communities in Portland. The initiative was won through grassroots community organizing, including in communities that are often ignored by political campaigns.
Our communities organized and mobilized neighborhoods across Oregon and the country. We galvanized individuals who would have not voted otherwise if their native language was not spoken to them. Thank you! All the calls you made, all the doors you knocked, all the conversations you had, made this happen. Our state’s frontline communities should be more than proud!
We know the fight is not over, we must still stop the Liquefied Natural Gas Pipeline and the Jordan Cove Terminal. Locally, regionally, nationally and globally we will continue to stand in solidarity and organize, organize, organize. We will keep building power for a just transition a forward-looking, inclusive and equitable vision.
Join our movement!

Members of APANO, OPAL and key ally organizations leading the way for #noon105 and #yeson201
From left to right: Pablo Alvarez, with NAACP Eugene/Springfield and Beyond Toxics; Reyna Lopez Ozuna with PCUN and; Ndia Gatimu with PAALF.
Adelante Mujeres ready to get out the vote!
Kelly and Finn with Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility.
Maria Hernandez with OPAL, Khanh Pham with APANO
Unite Oregon Rogue Valley’s team ready to talk to folks about #noon105