OGA Statement on Justice for Oregonians

The Oregon Gerontological Association (OGA) envisions our state as a vibrant and vital place to age. However, we cannot achieve this vision while injustices – especially those against black lives and other groups affected by systemic racism, oppression, violence and neglect – persist.

In downtown Portland, there is a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. etched into the side of the Justice Center building. This quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” was drawn from Dr. King’s 1963 “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” In this letter, Dr. King goes on to state, “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” From these statements, we can infer that, although the persistent social, economic and political inequities in Oregon disproportionately and inhumanly impact members of racial and ethnic minority groups, these injustices negatively impact all of us.

The OGA stands in solidarity with individuals and communities that are fighting these injustices and working to achieve equitable access to the resources, opportunities and power necessary to thrive. Only when we are able to achieve these goals will Oregon be a vibrant and vital place to age - for all of us.

Systemic racism and oppression, like the Covid-19 pandemic, are public health crises that require urgent attention. Take action/learn more now:

Oregon

Resource list compiled by Oregon Food Bank:
https://www.oregonfoodbank.org/find-help/partner-spotlight/

The Coalition of Communities of Color
The Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC) addresses the socioeconomic disparities, institutional racism and inequity of services experienced by our families, children and communities; and to organize our communities for collective action resulting in social change to obtain self-determination, wellness, justice and prosperity.

Portland United Against Hate
Portland United Against Hate (PUAH) is a coalition of more than 80 community organizations, neighborhood groups, agencies, and local governments working together for a safe, healthy, and loving community. Together, they built a rapid response system that combines reporting and tracking of hateful acts and provide support and protection to communities. PUAH seeks to combine resources, assets, and relationships to create an inclusive city that protects, embraces, and celebrates its diverse communities.

Black United Fund
For over 30 years, Black United Fund of Oregon has been committed to providing financial support and life-changing programs for low-income communities and communities of color in Oregon. The ultimate goal of the Black United Fund of Oregon is to increase opportunities for growth by encouraging philanthropic activity in our state and putting funds in the hands of organizations providing resources for underserved communities.

PAALF
The Portland African American Leadership Forum (PAALF) helps our Black community imagine the alternatives we deserve and build our civic participation and leadership to achieve those alternatives.

NAACP of Oregon
The NAACP of Oregon works to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and eliminating racial hatred and discrimination, with branches in Albany/Corvallis, Eugene/Springfield, Portland, and Salem/Keizer.

The Urban League of Portland
The Urban League of Portland’s mission is to empower African-Americans and others to achieve equality in education, employment, health, economic security and quality of life.

The MRG Foundation
The MRG Foundation inspires people in Oregon to work together for justice and mobilize resources for Oregon communities as they build collective power to change the world.

Unite Oregon
Led by people of color, immigrants and refugees, rural communities, and people experiencing poverty, Unite Oregon works across Oregon to build a unified intercultural movement for justice, with chapters in Medford, Beaverton, and Portland.

KairosPDX
KairosPDX is focused on delivering excellent, equitable education to underserved children, their families, and their communities. Their mission is to eliminate the prolific racial achievement and opportunity gaps by cultivating confident, creative, compassionate, leaders who exceed expectations at each milestone, ages 0-10.

Self Enhancement, Inc.
Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI) in North Portland is dedicated to guiding underserved youth to realize their full potential. Working with schools, families, and partner community organizations, SEI provides support, guidance, and opportunities to achieve personal and academic success. SEI brings hope to individual young people and enhances the quality of community life.

National

Black Lives Matter
https://blacklivesmatter.com
The Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.

The Poor Peoples Campaign
https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/
In 1968, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and many others called for a “revolution of values” in America. They sought to build a broad, fusion movement that could unite poor and impacted communities across the country. Their name was a direct cry from the underside of history: The Poor People’s Campaign.

Today, the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival has picked up this unfinished work. … people are coming together to confront the interlocking evils of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism and the war economy, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
https://www.naacp.org/
Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization and shares our commitment to equal rights.

American Public Health Association (APHA)
APHA champions the health of all people and all communities. We strengthen the public health profession. We speak out for public health issues and policies backed by science. We are the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public's health.

• apha.org/racism
• https://apha.org/topics-and-issues/health-equity
• https://apha.org/topics-and-issues/communicable-disease/coronavirus/equity

Resource list compiled by UCLA Civil Rights Project
https://www.civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/resources/civil-rights-organizations

List of Human Rights Organizations
https://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/human_rights_organizations

International

International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
https://imadr.org/
IMADR is an international non-profit, non-governmental human rights organization devoted to eliminating discrimination and racism, forging international solidarity among discriminated minorities and advancing the international human rights system. Founded in 1988 by one of Japan’s largest minorities, the Buraku people, IMADR has grown to be a global network of concerned individuals and minority groups with regional committees and partners in Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America. IMADR’s International Secretariat is based in Japan and maintains a UN liaison office in Geneva. IMADR is in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR)
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/Home.aspx
the principal United Nations office mandated to promote and protect human rights for all, OHCHR leads global human rights efforts speaks out objectively in the face of human rights violations worldwide. We provide a forum for identifying, highlighting and developing responses to today's human rights challenges, and act as the principal focal point of human rights research, education, public information, and advocacy activities in the United Nations system.

OHCHR Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/cerd/
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by its State parties.

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