Cascadia today: Trump deploys Guard to Oregon + 25-year-old to lead BC Greens
Trump illegally deploying Guard in Oregon
After weeks of targeting Portland on social media for protests at an ICE facility in the city, US president Donald Trump announced he's taking control of 200 members of the Oregon National Guard and deploying them to Portland, posting on social media over the weekend he was “authorizing Full Force, if necessary." Governor Tina Kotek and Portland mayor Keith Wilson hosted a press conference on Friday, with Wilson noting "The number of necessary troops is zero, in Portland and any other American city." More than 100 organizations, local leaders, and business owners from Oregon signed an open letter opposing Trump sending troops.
Residents of Portland pointed out that Trump's characterization of the city as "war-torn" were ridiculous and and quipped that resident were desperately bartering for heirloom tomatoes at farmers markets on a sunny weekend day in the City of Roses. Meanwhile, hundreds of peaceful protesters carried flowers, banged on buckets and called for the end to Trump's cruel crackdown on immigrants and for abolishing ICE.
Oregon attorney general Dan Rayfield has already filed a lawsuit against the deployment.
Tired of the feds bullying Cascadia into its authoritarian project? Join Cascadia Democratic Action as we work toward autonomy for our bioregion.
WA officials seek access to Tacoma ICE facility
KUOW interviews an official with the Washington state Department of Health, which is seeking access to inspect the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, where most of immigrants detained in Cascadia end up. Inspectors have been fighting to inspect the privately-run jail for over a year, citing many complaints against the facility:
We have heard about problems with the drinking water, that maybe it has an off color to it or some sediment in it. We've heard issues about some of the health care. We've heard complaints of physical violence and sexual assault, which we've referred back to the Tacoma Police Department. We've heard problems about the food and clothing, and overall unhealthy conditions in the facility. --Lauren Jenks, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Public Health, Washington state
25-year-old Emily Lowan to lead BC Greens
The Tyee reports on how 25-year-old climate activist Emily Lowan won the election to lead the BC Green party, making her the first Zoomer to lead a major party in Canada. Her campaign signed on thousands of new members and in addition to pushing for climate action, focused on housing affordability and union membership. The party currently only holds three seats in the BC legislature and needs a reboot. Last week Lowan criticized BC premier David Eby for taking a trip to New York City to meet with Donald Trump, accusing him of "rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump’s inner circle of American oligarchs."
Remembering Seattle historian Quintard Taylor
Lola Peters, writing for the South Seattle Emerald, remembers Dr. Quintard Taylor, who extensively documented the history of Seattle's Black community. His 2022 book The Forging of a Black Community is the definitive history of the Central District and the growth of the city's Black population through two world wars and the civil rights movement.
The Forging of a Black Community was written for ordinary folks. It is the most exquisite example of "show, don't tell." The stories in the book inevitably show the interlaced strength and endurance of our local Black communities while exposing the fissures. It's an intellectually rigorous work of love. --Lola Peters
Correction on Cascadia Poetry Festival
A post on Friday gave the wrong date and location of this year's Cascadia Poetry Festival. It's actually October 10-12 at the Rainer Beach Community Club in Seattle. Check it out!
