SCAPPOOSE – On the front lines of rural Oregon, families, farmers, teachers, students, immigrants, and workers are facing a state of emergency in their own backyard. Policies that shortchange schools and healthcare while increasing funds for prisons and the war, erode our civil liberties and civil rights, and shift the tax burden off corporations and onto working families are hitting hard.

This June 12-18, rural and urban people from every corner of the state will gather together to take a stand against community-destroying policies in a week long Walk for Truth, Justice, and Community. From the state capital in Salem to Portland’s neighborhoods, Oregonians will set aside a week of their lives to walk in affirmation of their values of justice, democracy, human rights, and human dignity for all people. Walkers will bring stories from home that share their hopes for and challenges in caring for the needs of their community members and ensuring that everyone has a roof over their head, food in their bellies, equal rights and opportunities, healthcare, education, and a living wage.

Marcy Westerling, Director of the Rural Organizing Project, states, “Here in Oregon, we are facing a state of emergency that calls for action. In the name of truth, justice, and community, we will join together across the divisions and fragmentation of our world to unite in resistance and celebrate our vision for the world that we want. We have a vision of our communities united in beloved communities across the lines of race, gender, sexual orientation, and class.”

Each day on the Walk for Truth, Justice, and Community, there will be actions that call for funding human needs, not global war, protecting civil liberties and civil rights, and demanding economic justice and immigrant rights. Local caravans from around the state will convene in Salem on June 12th to kick off the week’s journey and declare our people’s state of emergency. On Monday morning, constituents will visit with legislators and the Governor in a call to bring the Oregon Guard home and account for the cost of the war for Oregon. In Woodburn, the Walk will join farm workers in a call for workers rights and fair immigration reform that rewards work by granting legal status to hardworking, taxpaying, law-abiding immigrant workers already established in the US. On Wednesday and Thursday, the Walk will visit small towns in Clackamas County where community members will testify to the local crisis in housing and food security. In historic Oregon City, the Walk will affirm our democratic values that demand protection for of the Bill of Rights and equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people and families. The Walk for Truth, Justice, and Community will conclude in Portland with a rally at Senator Smith’s office calling for support for Oregon’s vital human needs, not the war.

The Walk for Truth, Justice and Community this June 12 –18 from Salem to Portland is a week long mobilization using the powerful symbolism of people setting aside their lives to march in support of their values and their belief that another world is possible. A world where justice, equality, peace, dignity, and democracy triumph over greed, racism, militarism, capitalism, and oppression. Come bring your vision and values, your outrage and frustration, your belief in another world and another way!

Not everyone can be a full week marcher. Some people are joining us for a few days or even just one. Good food, music, theatre, and the sharing of stories will take place in the evenings. This is a free event. And then there are people that will literally lend their bodies for a very particular event on a set day. But we need to know when people intend to show up. Below is a current snapshot of the week. While times and details may change slightly, the adaptations should be minor. Please consider the details below and then sign up for the times that you can pledge to be present by contacting cara@rop.org or calling 503.543.8417.

Sunday, June 12, 2-4 pm, the Capitol Building, Salem: The People Declare Our State of Emergency

Caravans from around the state gather in Salem to kick the Walk off with an Assembly of Unrepresented People. We will stand up powerfully to oppose the outrageous assault on immigrants that is being launched across the nation, at this very moment We will assess the threat level in our communities due to food insecurity and other failings of the basic safety nets. We will describe the resources, support, and dignity that our communities all deserve. We will identify the illegal Iraq war and the drive for Empire as the root cause of the attacks on our human rights and livelihood. We will declare our People’s State of Emergency and begin the week long Walk for Truth, Justice, and Community with a rally. If you can only attend one event, this is where we ask you to join us!

Monday, June 13, 9–11 am, Salem: The People’s State of Emergency Acts to Bring the Guard Home

We march on the Governor’s Office demanding the Oregon National Guard return and an accounting of the cost of the War in Iraq on Oregon. We visit our legislators to share our concerns and priorities for funding human needs, protecting civil liberties, civil rights, and immigrant rights, and demanding economic justice. The Walk will visit the Oregon Associated Oregon Industries, one of the most powerful lobbies fueling the People’s State of Emergency. We will call attention to the real power and money behind the democratic façade in Salem and demand accountability to the people of Oregon.



Tuesday, June 14, 4-7pm, Woodburn: The People’s State of Emergency Calls for Immigrant and Workers Rights

We meet up with our farm worker and immigrant allies for a march into Woodburn to highlight the state of emergency for workers rights, economic justice, and immigrant rights. Speakers will share their stories of immigration and the need for fair immigration reform with a clear path to citizenship. Workers will highlight their struggles and successes in this long road towards beloved community where the rights and dignity of all people are respected. That evening we will gather for a community dinner hosted by CAUSA and PCUN, the farm worker union. The next morning the Walk will stop by the fields to rally with workers for fair wages and working conditions.

Wednesday, June 15, 7-9 pm, Canby: A Local County Declares their State of Emergency: Fund Human Needs!

Local community leaders will give testimony to the state of emergency they face at a local level – from county elected officials to the local food bank to people with disabilities relying on local services, we will hear their stories and unite in a call for adequate funding of human needs in a fair way.

Thursday, June 16, 5pm, Oregon City: It’s an Emergency felt on Main Street

As the Walk reaches Oregon City, we will gather for a main street tour of historic sites that call attention to our demands for the defense of civil liberties and civil rights. It’s a state of emergency at the courthouse where we call for marriage equality and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered Oregonians. At the library, we call for the defense of the Bill of Rights currently under attack from the U.S. PATRIOT Act. At 7pm, we will gather for an interactive play, “A Leap of Faith” that explores issues of Marriage Equality, Christianity, and Community.

Friday, June 17, 4pm, Portland: The People’s State of Emergency Calls on Smith to Support Oregon, not the War at One World Trade Building, 121 SW Salmon St, Portland.

Our walk will be met by urban allies led by Oregon Action. We will fill Senator Smith’s office with people and postcards from around the state declaring our people’s state of emergency and demanding we account for the total cost of the war on our state. Our communities demand resources be brought back to our communities to support healthcare and human needs, not wealthy corporations and out of Iraq. That evening we will gather for a community dinner and celebration hosted by OA.

Saturday, June 18, 10am, Portland: Bringing the State of Emergency Back Home: The Journey Continues!

Our final march will bring us to a closing ceremony to ourselves, our struggles for justice and democracy, and to our beloved communities. This will close out our week together and affirm our commitment to take this energy home.

Please alert ROP to when and where you intend to participate so that we can keep you up to date – contact us at walkforjustice@rop.org

Count Me In! I will attend the following events:__________________________________________

I can Walk on this day(s): Mon ___ , Tues ___ , Wed ___ , Thurs ___ , Friday ___, Saturday ___.

I can sleep at the Tent City this night(s): Sun ___ , Mon ___ , Tues ___ , Wed ___ , Thurs ___ , Friday ___

MyName:____________________________________Phone:____________Email:________________

Rural Organizing Project * P.O. Box 1350 * Scappoose, Oregon * 97056 * 503 543-8417 * www.rop.org * walkforjustice@rop.org