Post · bonfire.cafe

@alissaazar@kolektiva.social · 13 hours ago

I am currently in Newport, OR for a public hearing at city hall to listen to resident concerns on a potential ICE facility that officials are considering putting in town. The room is completely packed, the hallways are packed, there and tons of people protesting ICE outside and a packed rec center where the testimonies are being live streamed.

So far we have heard many testimonies from local residents including fishermen voicing their concerns about the possibility of an ICE detention center in town and concern about the removal of the coast guard helicopter.

DHS has said to be considering moving into a Newport Coast Guard air facility at the Newport Municipal airport, after they already displaced a Coast Guard helicopter some weeks ago at the property, concerning city officials who rely on that helicopter for safety along Oregon’s coastline.

Bring back the helicopter no ICE in Newport

Protesters outside of city hall in Newport

Alissa Azar

@alissaazar@kolektiva.social replied · 13 hours ago

These safety concerns have repeatedly been addressed by countless community members. One speaker said it is blowing his mind that DHS is directly interfering with the safety of the coast guard and their ability to properly and safely do their job.

Alissa Azar

@alissaazar@kolektiva.social replied · 13 hours ago

A young girl just spoke about how her father was kidnapped by ICE a few weeks ago and went on about how difficult it has been for her and her mother. Lots of tears in the room.

Even as people continue speaking I can hear cars honking and people chanting “fuck ICE” outside

Alissa Azar

@alissaazar@kolektiva.social replied · 13 hours ago

Many people speaking out opposing ICE are continuing to draw attention to the helicopter relocation, bringing up how awful the timing is due to weather, but also that it is at the head of crab season and how Newport has the states largest commercial fishing fleet, further endangering fishers and tourists. Someone mentioned how the helicopters new location is 1.5 hours away from Newport. Far too long to save lives.

“Getting rid of a service that saves lives for an agency that destroys them is a disgrace,” said a Newport resident.

Alissa Azar

@alissaazar@kolektiva.social replied · 12 hours ago

It has ended. Several people concluded with thanking city council and the mayor for what they called a “facts finding forum.” There was a lot of misinformation and confusion with the potential new ICE detention center in Newport and people thinking the city was supporting it.

City officials clarified that they are unanimously against it and added that even the life saving helicopter got relocated and taken away in the dead of night with no notice to anyone.

There were so many people who spoke up tonight, over two hours worth of testimony from locals who were unanimously against it. Multiple residents made it clear that no matter what the city decided to do, they would refuse to let this happen.

Alissa Azar

@alissaazar@kolektiva.social replied · 10 hours ago

Y’all I am so exhausted, before coming to Newport I was doing something and had an ICE encounter in Pdx (will share about that soon, it’s been a long day)… but I just have to say this real quick.

I love the Oregon coast. There is no coast in the world like it. Its breathtaking eeriness is something I will always cherish. But whenever I come I either interact with no one at all and am emo on the beach, or I chat with a few random people here and there.

What I witnessed today was so beautiful. Everyone was so kind and lovely. And the things people were saying were so heartfelt and… idk. It was just so genuine.

I feel like sometimes in a bigger city (especially one that is so fucking white *cries in Portland*) there’s unfortunately just a lot more performative sympathy and activism. There’s just so much ego involved. It’s nice being in a more rural area and hearing people genuinely care and fight for one another. I’m not saying that it doesn’t exist in Portland because it does. But not like this. It’s just different. I know there’s a lot that goes into that, and unfortunately I am not awake enough to dive into the politics of it all. But yeah…

Newport you are beautiful 🖤

Jon

@jdp23@neuromatch.social replied · 10 hours ago

@alissaazar thanks as always for the detailed update!

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