Black Lives Matter: Voices of Rural Oregon

We are in the midst of a global movement, with Black Lives Matter protests erupting all around the nation and beyond. Rural Organizing Project’s multiracial network of human dignity groups is answering the call. Here in Oregon, rural and small-town communities have hosted over 75 community events in every corner of the state. People are gathering on street corners, in churches and parks, and in socially-distanced car caravans to protest and hold vigil for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and the many other Black and brown people killed by police. Almost all of these protests were organized by young people braving a pandemic. In this month’s episode, Black Lives Matter: Voices of Rural Oregon, we’ll hear from protest organizers including Adriana Aquarius in Deschutes County and Gianna Espinoza in Wallowa County about why their communities are showing up in defense of Black lives.

Local organizers have also been taking the energy of this moment and directing it towards organizing for racial justice on the local level. Groups in the ROP network and new groups called to action by the current uprising are digging into police and sheriffs’ budgets, calling and emailing local elected officials, and talking to their neighbors about racism and white supremacy. Following the leadership of the Movement for Black Lives, rural Oregonians are working to end systemic racism in their counties, defunding the police, and investing our resources into the things that create true safety and help our communities thrive. Get involved by emailing [e-mail]!

Download this episode’s transcription at ruralrootsrising.org

More on what you heard in this episode:

You can learn more about the vision and demands of the Movement for Black Lives here and current opportunities for action here! Referenced in the episode, you can find the Pew Survey which found a majority of people in the US support Black Lives Matter here.

ROP is holding multiple statewide calls to strategize together about how to continue our organizing in the face of intimidation and threats from white supremacist counter-protesters and to share strategies for translating the Movement for Black Lives’ demands into each county's specific context. Head to rop.org/blacklivesmatter to join us!

Check out rop.org/blacklivesmatter for a list of previous and upcoming actions happening across Oregon! If you are interested in connecting with an existing group or want to start something in your town, we’d love to support you! Reach out to us at [e-mail].

Did you like the music in this episode? Listen to more Oregon-made music by The Road Sodas and Trouvaille. 

Rural Roots Rising is a production of the Rural Organizing Project. Thank you for listening!

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