January 1, 2019
The state of Oregon saw an elevated level of hate activity and criminality in 2018. This follows an upward trend following the 2016 elections. Last November, the FBI released its annual hate crime report and found a 15.2% increase in the national number of hate crimes reported to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report (8,437 offenses in 2017 and 7,321 offenses in 2016) which was dwarfed by the 40.4% increase in Oregon’s data (146 incidents in 2017 and 104 in 2016). Half of these 2017 offenses occurred in Eugene, reflecting their innovative work to improve hate crime reporting. A 2005 Bureau of Justice Statistics found that only 1 in 15 hate crimes are reported to authorities. In addition, not all police agencies submit data to the FBI. In Oregon, only 29 of 214 participating agencies submitted reports. The FBI data for reported hate crimes for 2018 won’t be available until November, 2019.
It is important to point out that the wide variety of hate activity causes trauma to the victims and communities that are targeted. This includes federal civil rights offenses, crimes that violate Oregon’s intimidation statutes, as well hate incidents, like the posting of racist flyers, that do not rise to the level of criminal offense but are still harmful to the community. Oregon experienced all of the above. Much of the disruption was related to the regular marches by Joey Gibson’s Patriot Prayer that attracted supporters from hate groups, like the Proud Boys and Identity Evropa. In addition, elementary, middle, and high schools across the state saw a rash of swastikas and other anti-Semitic graffiti.
However, the state also saw an increase in the amount of anti-hate activity. This included the CAHC/DOJ hate crime forum in Eugene on March 10, the events surrounding the one-year-anniversary of the Portland Hollywood Max attack in May, and the conference to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of the murder of Mulugeta Seraw on November 12. On May 23, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced the formation of a state task force on hate crimes. In addition, the new bias incident/crime reporting system was launched by Portland United Against Hate this past fall. Community trainings and presentations occurred across the state. The airing of Divided States: Portland, Oregon on A&E on March 3 reminded us of how deep the divisions are in Oregon. The good work of individuals and organizations, like the YWCA, Rural Organizing Project, the Urban League of Portland, PUAH, and Unite Oregon, did the heavy lifting to build resilience to hate.
2019 promises more divisiveness. Oregon will see the murder trial of Jeremy Christian but also recommendations of the attorney general’s task force. We are planning a third CAHC/DOJ hate crime forum in Medford this spring. We encourage residents to be vigilant, report all hate activity through the the best channel (which might not be the police) and stay safe.
What follows is a list of hate activity that was reported directly (through our Facebook page) or indirectly to the CAHC in 2018. It is not a comprehensive list by any means. After that is a list of some of the anti-hate activity that occurred in the state last year.
Oregon Hate Activity in 2018
January
11 – Identity Evropa recruitment poster found on Portland State campus, Portland.
20 – Convicted hate criminal Jacob Laskey arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing and criminal trespassing, Creswell.
21 – Neo-Nazi Kynan Dutton waves Nazi flag in front of Oregon capital, Salem.
24 – White nationalist student rep at OSU faces recall, Corvallis.
26 – Racist note given to African-American boy at Lake Oswego Junior High, Lake Oswego.
30 – Reward offered to catch people posting anti-Semitic materials at PCC Cascade Campus, Portland.
31 – OSU grad student Andrew Oswalt charged with Intim 1 after posting racist stickers on campus, Corvallis.
February
1 – A balloon with a swastika drawn on it found in a yard in North Portland.
2 – White supremacist invades home in White City.
4 – “KKK,” racist, and anti-Semitic phrases chalked on sidewalk in Portland park.
March
6 – Whit man intentionally rams his car into an Afghani immigrant, Lincoln City,
29 – Identity Evropa flies found in Portland and Gladstone.
30 – Noose found hanging from a tree in Sellwood.
April
12 – Neo-Nazi fliers found in SE Portland.
25 – Skinhead punches gay person in Eugene.
25 – Neo-Nazi graffiti in East Moreland Park, Eugene.
27 – Hammerskins post ‘Hunting Guides’ Targeting Northwest Communities” online.
29 – Neo-Nazi flier was posted on the wall of Congregation Neveh Shalom, Portland.
May
8 – KKK flyers posted, East Medford.
June
3 – Patriot Prayer rally with Proud Boys, Identity Europa, Portland.
9 – Assault by Proud Boys on NE Broadway, Portland.
17 – Anti-gay assault on NW 21st Avenue, Portland.
22 – Linn County DMV Worker posts “Shoot Them All at the Border” on Facebook.
23 – Stormer Book Club flyers, Oregon City.
30 – Proud Boys involved in Patriot Prayer riot, Portland.
July
11 – Racist threatener arrested, Beaverton.
16 – Anti-lesbian rant investigated, SE Portland.
17 – Oregonians for Immigration Reform gets Measure 105 on November ballot.
19 – Northwest Front flyers posted, Corvallis.
20 – Deputy placed on leave for wearing Proud Boys gear, Clark Co. WA.
22 – Man arrested on intimidation charges, Lents, Portland.
August
2 – Racist harassment at Beach Elementary School Park, Portland.
4 – Patriot Prayer/Proud Boys rally, Portland.
10 – Racist attack on Willamette River dock, Portland.
September
4 – Anti-immigrant (and Yes on 105) literature handed out at Oregon State Fair, Salem.
12 – Racial slur etched, paint smeared on woman’s car, NE Portland.
October
6 – PSU Pita Pit employee arrested for racist menacing, Portland.
13 -Patriot Prayer rally, Portland.
19 – Nazi flyers blaming Jews for Kavanaugh protests, Portland.
22 – “OK to be white” stickers found in Vancouver, WA.
26 – Hate criminal James Acrement dies at Oregon State Prison, Salem.
28 – Favorable Oregonian story about Joey Gibson, Portland.
November
20 – Anti-Semitic graffiti at Lewis Elementary School, Portland.
December
8 – Oregon skinheads arrested in anti-black attack in Lynnwood, Washington.
12 – Anti-Semitic graffiti found at Cleveland High School, Portland.
18 – Neo-Nazi Jimmy Marr hospitalized after class with anti-racist activist, Corvallis.
20 – Portland man arrested after threatening two African-American boys with a butcher knife.
23 – Police called on black guest at Double Tree Hilton for calling his mother, Portland.
24 – White women harasses African-America couple with knife, arrested, McMinnville.
Responding to Hate in 2018
January
16 – Interrupting Hate in Public Spaces, First Unitarian Church (PDX NAACP).
27 – Holocaust Remembrance Day.
February
1 – TriMet Advisory Committee announces artist for Hollywood Max Station tribute mural, Sarah Farahat.
27 – Peace March held by students of Faubian Elementary School, Portland.
March
5 – Divided States: Portland airs on A&E, forum held at Portland Community College – Cascade.
10 – CAHC/DOJ Hate Crime Forum at UO School of Law, Eugene.
13 – The Beloved Community: Living the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Race Talks, Portland.
16 – Racial Equity Exploration: A Theatrical, Interactive Experience, Portland.
April
8 – Interrupting Hate in Public Spaces, YWCA, Portland.
9 – From Charlottesville to Eugene: White Nationalism’s Resurgence, Immigration, & The Lawyer’s Voice in the Debate, UO School of Law, Eugene.
10 – Hate Under Law: Free Speech, Bigotry and Oregon forum, West Linn.
May
1 – White Supremacy in Oregon: History and Current Issues, NOW Portland.
23 – AG Rosenblum announces task force on hate crime.
25 – Q Center vigil, Portland.
26 – One year anniversary of Portland Max Attack, dedication of the mural at the Hollywood Max Station.
June
16 – Trans Unity Pride Celebration, Portland.
16 – PUAH Managing Compassion Fatigue workshop, Lewis & Clark College.
20 – Jeremy Christian profile page removed from Facebook.
20 – Mourn, Pray, Love and Take Action! Rally, Unite Oregon, Portland.
21 – Cultural Empathy program, YWCA, Portland.
21-23 – Good in the Hood Festival, Portland.
August
7 – Community rally against hate in Normandale Park, Portland.
10 – CAHC at Anti-Hate Teach In – Washington, DC.
15 – Supporting Native Survivors, YWCA, Gresham.
19 – Walk with Refugees and Immigrants, Gateway Discovery Park, Portland.
25 – Portland Somali Festival, Lents Park, Portland
October
9 – Tragedy on the Max: One Year Later, Race Talks, Portland.
11 – Harvey Milk Street Celebration, Portland.
17 – CAHC presentation on community engagement and extremism, NYC.
17 – Interrupting Hate in Schools, Resolutions NW, Portland.
18 – Building Bridges Summit , Muslim Educational Trust, Tigard.
24 – Eli Saslow (Rising out of Hatred) presentation at Alberta Rose Theater, Portland.
25 – Judge considers death penalty in Max attack case, Portland.
28 – Community gathering in response to Pittsburgh hate crime, Portland.
November
2 – Man arrested in for Aug. 10 racist bias crime, Portland.
6 – Oregon voters defeat Measure 105.
13 – Seraw Commemoration Conference, Portland State.
14 – Seraw street topping ceremony, SE 31st and Pine, Portland.
28 – Andrew Oswalt found guilty, Corvallis.
December
13 – Andrew Oswalt sentenced to 40 days in jail, 3 yers probation, Corvallis.
14 – CAHC attends ADL Consortium on Extremism, Washington DC.
16 – SE Uplift Book Study – A Hundred Little Hitlers, Portland.
Oregon Coalition Against Hate Crime 
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