Bailey Receives Support From Local Activists

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Brendan Murray, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Teressa Raiford

Activists are praising Mayoral candidate Jules Bailey for his approach to the issues of racial injustice and police brutality during the campaign, but say he has to prove he is more than just talk to earn his trust.

Bailey addressed the issue in an interview with GoLocal. Bailey said he believes that the City of Portland must do more to help minorities.

“It’s especially difficult for people of color,” Bailey said. “For too long, communities of color have been pushed to the side and left behind. They are communities that are suffering in a lot of different ways. We are failing them, and we need to talk about that.”

Teressa Raiford, an activist and organizer with Don’t Shoot PDX that she’s glad someone is addressing the issue, but wishes Bailey would do more.

'He should specify the failures and demand audits bad immediate investigation into the likely hood that civil rights violations have been made against blacks in Oregon," Raiford said of Bailey. "He should request language that would criminalize state sanctioned discrimination. He should also speak it the issue of Police Brutality and our failed education and foster care system. Speak solutions."

Ted Wheeler

Wheeler’s Views “Problematic.”

Raiford said previously that she was not thrilled but the candidacy of Ted Wheeler.

“Ted Wheeler seems like he would be a fine choice practically considering his background as the State Treasurer, but he has not reached out to me or any other groups fighting for the rights of Black Portlanders. He’s just more of the same.”

Raiford said that she was incredibly frustrated by the lack of attention that issues surrounding civil rights and police brutality have received in Portland and Oregon politics. She criticized Wheeler, Hales and many other candidates for “ignoring such a critical issues.”

“This is a national, major issue right now,” Raiford said. “It’s probably the biggest issue in this country right now. No candidate for Mayor of Portland, not even a candidate for Governor of Oregon has addressed it. That is inexcusable to me.”

Adrienne Cabouet, an organizer with #BlackLivesMatter, agreed.

“There is no one to support that has spoken out about this issue,” Cabouet said. “It’s really disappointing, and it’s very frustrating, the lack of attention this issue has gotten. It’s just more politic as normal in Portland.”

Jules Bailey

Big Changes Needed

Cabouet said that if Portlanders want to see issues of police brutality and city rights become major issues in their city elections, they will have to make candidates speak on it, as they have proven they will not speak on it themselves.

“We have to force candidates to speak about it. They’ve shown this is an issue that they will not address if we do not make them address it,” Cabouet said.

“That’s true even on a national scale. Look at Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. They don’t speak about it unless they are really forced to, and even then they try to wiggle around it.”

Raiford agreed. She also emphasized a need to hold politicians accountable for their promises.

"I believe that failing communities of color begins with lack of respect and inclusion most demos favor," Raiford said. "In my opinion, most leaders fail us by becoming gatekeepers to public resources and using color and their self-appointed value in the black community as leverage with lawmakers rather than speaking with us directly about issues we deal with."