BerniePDX / Portland for Bernie

BerniePDX endorses Mike Schmidt for Multnomah County District Attorney because of his emphasis on alternatives to incarceration. During his tenure as the current DA, Mike created the STEP Court program, which offers mental health and addiction treatment as an alternative to jail time for certain offenses. Mike also established the Restorative Justice program to hold wrongdoers accountable without incarceration and give victims a voice in the accountability process. These policies minimize the number of people that enter the prison system while still administering justice and not infringing on voting rights. 

As DA, Mike focuses on serious crimes that impact community safety, not minor non-violent law breaking, like protesting in the street. He implemented an immigration-neutral sentencing policy so that minor offenses, like receiving a traffic ticket, won’t automatically lead to deportation. Mike’s office is also partnering with public health experts to address violence in our community, and the Justice Integrity Unit he established has already reversed wrongful convictions. 

For these reasons, BerniePDX supports the re-election of Mike Schmidt as Multnomah County DA. Mike’s corporate-backed opponent will take our county in the wrong direction.

Check out Mike’s new campaign video here.

Please join us this Saturday, 3-5pm, for Mike’s Campaign Kick-Off!

Learn more about Mike and get involved at mikeschmidtforda.com

As an all-volunteer organization composed of former Bernie Sanders for President supporters and Oregonians deeply committed to progressive values at home and abroad, BerniePDX urgently calls on our namesake, Senator Sanders, to immediately back a cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine.

Additionally, we urge all members of the Oregon federal congressional delegation to support Congresswoman Cori Bush’s Ceasefire Now Resolution. Hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk if a cease-fire is not achieved and humanitarian aid is not delivered.

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Contact your Oregon Representative and Senators here to urge them to support a cease-fire.

The Multnomah County District Attorney impacts the quality of life and safety of the people in our county. A good DA will move us a little closer to justice for all. For instance, the DA gets to decide whether or not to:

• Use restorative justice
• Focus on serious crimes that impact community safety, rather than prosecuting people for minor non-violent law-breaking, like protesters disobeying an order
• Require cash bail from people who can’t afford to post it
• Use alternatives to incarceration when available and appropriate
• And much more!

Cast your endorsement vote for this important race here! Last day to vote is Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Portland teachers are fighting for Safe, Sustainable and Equitable Schools for Every Student. After months of bargaining, Portland Association of Teachers announced last Thursday that with 93% members participation in the vote, 98.9% voted to authorize a strike. PAT has given official notice that members will strike beginning Wednesday, Nov. 1 unless the district comes to its senses and settles a fair contract

Come out on Saturday, 10/28 to show your support!​ 9am rally, 10am march.

Location: Portland Association of Teachers, 345 NE 8th Ave.

“People KGW spoke with at the rally shared that although Portland is far from the Middle East, they hope the people of Israel and Palestine know Portlanders are on their side to end the war.”

Read the rest of the article here.

Portland teachers are fighting for Safe, Sustainable and Equitable Schools for Every Student. To win this union contract will take all of us. Pledge your solidarity and sign up to take action:

Leaflet parents dropping off/picking up their kids at your neighborhood school, write and call school board members, put up a window sign, distribute window stickers to local businesses, distribute lawn signs, petition and leaflet at local events and schools, pass a resolution in your union or organization, phone bank residents, door knock with a teacher, show up at school board meetings, attend rallies and marches, and, if teachers are forced to strike, honor and support their picket line.

Sign up to support teachers and students today! 

UAW workers at the Stellantis Parts Distribution Center in Beaverton have joined the national autoworkers strike for fair wages, good benefits, and better working conditions. According to OPB, Stellantis made nearly $12 billion in profits during the first half of 2023 alone. This is a 24/7 picket line, so come out any time to show your solidarity! 

Location: Stellantis, 10030 SW Allen Blvd, Beaverton 

Autoworkers in Beaverton have joined the national UAW strike, Kaiser healthcare workers are striking around the state, Portland teachers and New Seasons workers are holding practice pickets, and so much more!

Click the Events tab up top, or visit www.berniepdx.us/events for more info.

SEIU submitted a 10-day notice to Kaiser Permanente executives that Coalition unions are calling for our first unfair labor practice strike, starting Oct. 4 at 6 am through 6 am, Oct. 7, 2023.

SEIU Local 49 joins more than 75,000 Kaiser healthcare workers united in this work action across Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Virginia, California, and Washington DC – making it the largest healthcare worker strike in U.S. history. This three-day strike will be the initial demonstration of our strength to Kaiser that we will not stand for their unfair labor practices. Read more here.

Support the strike:
– Join a picket line
– Email the President of Kaiser NW
– Sign the petition

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 27: Protest “Who Will Own the Forest?” Conference

On Wednesday, September 27 grassroots activists and leaders from the forest defense & climate justice movement will converge at the World Forestry Center for a massive demonstration to confront these Wall Street capitalists and put them on notice that managing forests to maximize profits for the rich & stall climate action will be met with increasing resistance. There will be speakers, music, marching bands, theatrical performances, art & creative resistance, and more–come out to show these Wall Street elites that extractive forestry and false solutions will be risky investments in the face of staunch grassroots opposition!

Location: World Forestry Center in PDX, RSVP Here for more info

THURSDAY, SEPT. 28, 10AM-5PM: Forests Over Profits Conference

Communities and forests need real solutions to the climate emergency, industrial logging, and colonial land grabbing. On Thursday, September 28 come to the Forests Over Profits conference in Portland. In contrast to the corporate ‘Who Will Own the Forest?’ conference, communities and activists will come together to elevate real solutions and the need for fundamental systems change in the face of capitalist exploitation and the climate & biodiversity crises.

From 10am-5pm we’ll learn from speakers & panelists about approaches to forest management that support ecosystems, empower communities, and grow climate resilience, including Land Back and other indigenous land management systems, community forestry & land trusts, and sustainable forest management. Through presentations and discussions, participants will be encouraged to support real alternatives to corporate, profit-driven management.

RSVP here for more info