Sit-in for Racial Equity staged at Capitol Offices of OR State Representatives

Salem, Ore -- This morning, 75 people staged a sit-in at the Capitol offices of Oregon State Representatives Andy Olson (R-Albany), Vicki Berger (R-Salem) and Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay). Those participating included students, parents, clergy and members of a diverse coalition of organizations including CAUSA, the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), Urban League, Center for Intercultural Organizing (CIO) and Latinos Unidos Siempre (LUS).

The Sit-in was in direct response to bills promoting racial equity--those allowing all Oregonians greater access to basic rights like quality health care and affordable education-- being blocked by partisan gridlock and obstructionism.

Participants in this morning’s action called on the leadership from both parties to work with one another and with those legislators, business leaders, community leaders and countless Oregonians who have already united to support these bills and to break from the status quo and advance racial equity.

“The time has come to rise above partisanship and politics and recognize that people of color make up over 20% of the population of our great state”, said Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of CAUSA Oregon. “The issues we bring to our lawmakers will not simply go away with the end of session. They need to do what is right for all Oregonians now.”

Participants agreed to end the sit-in after 30 minutes in exchange for a meeting with the Republican and Democratic House Leadership to discuss the future of Tuition Equity and other legislation that promotes Racial Equity.

Currently, Senate Bill 742 Tuition Equity, one of the important pieces of legislation for Oregon’s communities of color, is still sitting in the House Rules Committee and being obstructed from having an up or down vote in the Oregon House.

View additional photos here:
http://s516.photobucket.com/albums/u329/CAUSAOregon/Sit-in%20for%20Racial%20Equity/?albumview=slideshow

Related News Coverage

Ethnic organizations demand racial equity at sit-in The Oregonian

Protestors try to dislodge stalled in-state tuition bill Salem Statesman Journal

Posted in: Direct Action,Oregon State Capitol,Racial Equity,Sit-in,Tuition Equity