NEWS UPDATE FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVID GOMBERG: A Dark Blemish on a Bright Season

By Representative David Gomberg, House District 10

12/23/2024

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This past week, a number of Coastal leaders who went to the mailbox, found among the warm holiday greetings and year-end appeals for good causes, a much darker message.

An unsigned letter with a false return address was urging us to collect information on our neighbors and take part in “the largest round-up of brown illegals in our history”.

The letter instructed residents to stake out churches, stores and work sites, and “if you see brown folks – record the plate #.” It went on to say, “This is extremely important if you attend a catholic church – many brown folks are catholics!!”

“Shortly after the 21st of January, Homeland Security will create a hotline to which you can send your information.”

“When the brown folks are rounded up, their properties will be confiscated just like the properties belonging to the Japanese in California were during World War II,” the letter says. “Within a short term, there will be a whole lot of homes on the market for us white folks to purchase and with the inventory so high the prices will (be) very low and affordable.”

A portion of the letter sent anonymously to mayors and other community leaders along the central coast.

In response to this call to inform on neighbors, residents and visitors, I released this statement:

Our coastal communities in Oregon are built on values of respect, inclusion, and unity. Racial profiling, harassment and intolerance have no place here. We must reject intolerance and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every individual feels safe, valued, and supported, regardless of race, religion, gender, or national origin. I stand with other community leaders who received this hateful letter in unequivocally denouncing the bigotry and racism it advocates.

I also reached out to our state Attorney General.

“Attempts to intimidate our communities and their leaders through racist letter writing campaigns has no place in Oregon,” Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said on Friday in response to the letters. “It is time to rise above these despicable tactics and demonstrate the true spirit of inclusivity and compassion that defines the Oregon way.”

The FBI said in a statement late Friday afternoon that the Bureau was aware of the letters, and that extrajudicial actions “infringe on everyone’s rights and law enforcement’s collective ability to keep people safe, regardless of their race.”

The unsigned letters contained a false Otis address and a Portland postmark.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office reported that they had learned about a letter being circulated throughout Lincoln County which encourages community members to track and report information regarding people of color, specifically community members that are believed to be undocumented. “We want to be unequivocal in our stance: this type of behavior is harmful, divisive, and inconsistent with the values we uphold as public servants and community members. Targeting individuals in this manner erodes trust and undermines the sense of safety and inclusion that we strive to maintain in Lincoln County.”

Oregon and Washington are sanctuary states. That means we are committed to using our limited tax revenue for first responders to help people in distress and address crimes against people and property.

Oregon law generally prohibits the inquiry or collection of an individual’s immigration or citizenship status, or country of birth, with few specific exceptions as outlined in Oregon Revised Statute 181A.823. Our police agencies do not inquire about, document, or share such information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Reasonable people may have different attitudes about the complex issue of immigration, the role of undocumented workers in our communities and economies, or the circumstances of families with children born in the US and therefore enjoying US citizenship. But we should have no uncertainty about calls to target any of our neighbors because of the color of their skin.

Like many of you, I am the son and grandson of immigrants. To everyone reading this, I encourage you to act with compassion and courage. Speak out against hate, be an ally, and help create a sense of safety and inclusion for everyone. Let’s show that the strength of our communities lies in our diversity, unity, and resilience.

Some would argue that this letter comes from a single isolated individual or small group and that addressing it helps spread its ugly message.

I cannot agree. When you elected me to represent you in Salem to vote on budgets and policies, you also weighed me with the responsibility of a community leader. When I see wrong, when I see injustice, I’m compelled to speak out.

When a black family was run off a Lincoln City beach, I spoke out. When a trans woman was beaten in a Newport bathroom, I spoke out. When swastikas were painted on local businesses, I spoke out. I’m speaking out here again.

For evil to flourish, it only requires good people do nothing.

If you or your loved ones experience incidents of bias or hate, please don’t hesitate to report what you’ve experienced to the Oregon Department of Justice’s Bias Response Hotline. For more information on how to report an incident to the hotline, this link will help you understand your options, make choices about next steps, and receive support in the aftermath of experiencing or witnessing bias.

Let’s be clear that our communities are brimming with good people. Let’s be clear these hateful acts are isolated and improper. Let’s celebrate the good in our communities and each other.

I closed my report last week saying, stay warm, stay safe, and think of others this holiday season. In a slightly different context, I’ll say the same thing this week.

This is the season of light. Whatever you may celebrate, please do so with joy, gusto, the warm embrace of family and friends, and a care for all in our diverse communities.

Warm Regards,