Guests arriving at the annual Wayne Morse Gala, Oregon’s largest Democrat fundraising event of the year, were met by more than 50 protesters blocking two entrances to the Portland Hilton Hotel on April 13.
The protesters demanded that Oregon Democrats stop funding the war in Israel.
At least two protesters made their way into the event with a banner that read “Gaza will be your political grave.”
In a recording of the gala posted on social media by the Democrat Party of Oregon (DPO), protesters can be heard shouting through the last three minutes of U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley’s speech.
“Here in Oregon, can we all agree that we will stand against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia?” Mr. Merkley asked the audience as the disruption continued.
He then endorsed a two-state solution.
Hotel security and police eventually escorted the protesters out. In response, they could be heard chanting, “Portland PD, KKK, IDF you’re all the same” as they pounded on the locked doors and windows of the hotel.
PDX for Palestine claimed credit for the disruption.
On its website, the group instructed attendees to bring noisemakers, pots and pans, and instruments to: “Get loud for Gaza.”
The organization said it was responding to the most recent spending bill approved by every Oregon Democrat in the U.S. House and Senate.
The bill allocated $15 billion to Israel and $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Portland Police are investigating the incident.
“Officers responded to reports of vandalism and disturbance at the Hilton Hotel on April 13,” a spokesman for the Portland Police told The Epoch Times. “Officers defused the situation and got demonstrators to leave the property.”
No arrests were made, but the investigation remains open and charges will be pursued if appropriate, he added.
Oregon Heats Up
On April 15, a group of demonstrators waving Palestinian flags blocked travel lanes on Interstate 5 in Eugene, stopping all southbound traffic for 45 minutes.Law enforcement officers arrested 52 people on allegations of disorderly conduct, state police officials said.
They did not release the names of the people in custody or additional details about their arrests.
Two of the protesters face additional charges of conspiracy and theft.
At least one of those had a gun, police said.
Also on April 15, the Democratic Socialists of America of Portland and Collective PDX Action shut down two entrances to Intel’s Hillsboro campus.
The groups claimed on social media that they worked with Palestine solidarity groups from across the Portland area, along with a group of Intel employees.
“We coordinated this action with Intel workers organizing similar blockades at campuses in Arizona and California,” the group said on its site.
“This action has now sent shockwaves through the international Intel workforce, with many workers now realizing exactly how deeply Intel is involved with the Israeli economy and the ongoing war.”
Meanwhile, momentum is building in the state for Oregon Democrats to vote “uncommitted” in the May 21 Presidential Primary, protesting against the Gaza conflict.
“Biden has not heard our calls for peace,” the group HCW (Health Care Workers) for Palestine PDX shared on its Facebook page.
“We won’t stop until there is a ceasefire. We will withhold support for Biden until his administration stops aiding and abetting Israel’s genocide in Gaza.”
Democrats’ Agenda
After the interruption, the DPO’s Wayne Morse gala continued, with Democrats outlining their priorities with no more mention of the conflict in Israel.“Reproductive rights are on the ballot,” said Senator Merkley. “We need a Congress that can pass the Women’s Health Reproduction Act.
“Healthcare is on the ballot. We need a Congress that will defend Obama Care.”
“Climate is on the ballot. Equality is on the ballot. We need a Congress that will pass the Equality Act.”
Finally, he said: “Democracy is on the ballot.”
Mr. Merkley called to reform the filibuster and pass the Freedom to Vote Act.
Keynote Speaker Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General, said the nation is “on a historic precipice.”
“If we don’t do our duty in the next several months, there’s a chance that the ‘orange man’” returns to the White House,” Mr. Ellison said.
He urged Oregon Democrats to organize to turn out votes in the next election.
“You need to put the pedal to the metal,” he said.
Mr. Ellison outlined a litany of complaints about the Supreme Court.
“The U.S. Supreme Court is “out of control and on the wrong path.”
It has “wiped away decades of women’s right to choose,” he said.
“We have Jim Crow for gay people. It is legal in America to refuse to make a wedding cake or video for them. The U.S. Supreme Court wants to wipe away affirmative action.”
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek emphasized her party’s top priorities of housing, addiction, education, transgender healthcare, and abortion rights.
She urged Democrats to be proactive.
“We can take nothing for granted in these extraordinary times,” said Ms. Kotek. “The path to taking back Congress runs through Oregon.”
“We need to win these races. Our country depends on it. Our planet depends on it. We know what’s at stake. Reproductive freedom. The climate. Our very democracy is at stake.”
Oregon Senate President Rob Wagner described Oregon’s Democrat legislators as “bulwarks of social justice.”
“The Oregon Legislature with grit, determination, and unity stood fast” during its past session, Mr. Wagner said.
“We passed the strongest abortion rights legislation in the United States and codified gender-affirming care” while also investing in the arts and environmental protections.
“Now we will send Andrea Salinas (CD-6) back to Congress and flip the 5th Congressional seat.”
Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer holds the 5th CD.
DPO Vice Chair Eileen Kiely thanked Mr. Wagner for the “revolutionary idea that our state constitution should include abortion rights, marriage equality, and the right to trans healthcare.”
She reiterated the party’s intent to advocate for health care rights for the trans community.
“Unfortunately, we were not able to get that done in 2023 because of the walkout, but we’ve set the table for the next session to make that happen,” Ms. Kiely said.
“That will establish Oregon again as a leader at looking forward and setting an example for the whole nation.”
Notably absent from the conversation at the event were any mentions of the economy, inflation, crime, or the U.S. border” all issues that poll high in voter concerns.
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