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Kevin Foster

Kevin Foster reports on the intersection of politics and social justice for the Mercury. You can email him or find him on social media.

 
Posted inNews

Multnomah County Commissioners Poised to Vote on Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution

The resolution, introduced by Commissioner Lori Stegmann, has been in the works for the last month. But pro-Palestine organizers are disappointed by what they see as a watered-down statement.
Avatar photoAvatar photo Taylor Griggs and Kevin Foster

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners will discuss a resolution calling for a cease-fire in the war in Gaza at the county’s next board meeting Thursday, March 7.  The resolution, initiated by Commissioner Lori Stegmann, comes amid mounting pressure for national and local elected officials to denounce the war that has resulted in the deaths […]

Posted inNews

Portlanders Gather for Community Vigil After Death of Nex Benedict

Non-binary teen’s death in Oklahoma sparked questions about school bullying, while shining a light on the needs of LGBTQ+ youth
Avatar photo Kevin Foster

Over 150 Portlanders gathered for a vigil Tuesday evening at Pioneer Courthouse Square to mourn the death of Nex Benedict, a non-binary youth from Owasso, Oklahoma who died the day after being assaulted by classmates at their high school.  Police originally said a preliminary autopsy indicated Benedict “did not die as a result of trauma,” […]

Posted inNews

Multnomah County Commissioners Clash Over Fentanyl Emergency Declaration

Commissioner Sharon Meieran blasts 90-day fentanyl emergency as “baloney resolution” with no mechanism for results
Avatar photo Kevin Foster

Multnomah County Commissioners Sharon Meieran and Julia Brim-Edwards have concerns with the efficacy of a 90-day fentanyl emergency declared in Portland’s central city.  Following recent recommendations from Gov. Tina Kotek’s Central City Task Force, Kotek, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler jointly declared a 90-day state of emergency to address […]

Posted inNews

Police Arrest 20 Jewish Activists and Allies During Demonstration in Downtown Portland Supporting Palestine

Protesters staged a sit-in amid International Court of Justice hearings accusing Israel of genocide.
Avatar photo Kevin Foster

As South Africa presented its case accusing Israel of genocide in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Thursday, Jewish protesters and allies in Portland blocked the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Madison Street, in front of the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building in solidarity.  Protesters held a sit-in at a busy intersection, blocking traffic. Participants […]

Posted inNews

Healthcare Workers Rally Near OHSU Hospital Urging Cease-Fire in Gaza

Local staff say Portland health institutions have been silent, even as others around the US speak out.
Avatar photo Kevin Foster

This story has been corrected to reflect the title of one of the healthcare professionals quoted, and note the letters to Congress and healthcare executives are still being circulated and signed. As the death toll in Gaza surpasses 22,000 and Palestinian hospitals are crumbling, healthcare workers across Portland are urging their employers to call for […]

Posted inNews

Jewish Activists Blockade Rep. Earl Blumenauer’s Portland Office For Second Time in Two Weeks

Hours before an Israel/Hamas truce announcement, protesters pressured the Oregon congressman to follow Sen. Jeff Merkley’s call for a cease-fire in Gaza.
Avatar photo Kevin Foster

Jewish community members blocked all entrances to Rep. Earl Blumenauer’s office in Northeast Portland again Tuesday, in hopes of pressuring him to call for a cease-fire in Gaza. The action followed a similar sit-in two weeks prior. By the end of the day, with help from Qatari officials, a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas […]

Posted inNews

Protesters Picket Boeing Over Weapons Shipments to Israel

Activists blocked entrances at Boeing’s Gresham plant, saying the company needs to be held accountable for its role in the Hamas/Israel war that has killed thousands.
Avatar photo Kevin Foster

Police were called to a Boeing manufacturing plant in Gresham last week, after protesters picketed the site over the company’s supply of weapons to Israel. On Friday, November 17, Portland’s chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) organized a picket at Boeing’s aircraft manufacturing facility in Gresham. Following Hamas’ attack on October 7, […]

Posted inPolitics

Portland Activists Stage Sit-In at Rep. Blumenauer’s Office In Hopes He’ll Support a Cease-Fire in Gaza

Activists hope Blumenauer, a longtime progressive, will eventually be responsive to their demands.
Avatar photo Kevin Foster

On Wednesday, November 8, members of Portland’s Jewish community and allies shut down Rep. Earl Blumenauer’s office by blocking the entrance for over three hours. Neither Blumenauer or Oregon’s other U.S. Representatives have called for a cease-fire in Gaza, where more than 10,000 people have been killed by Israeli militants over the last month. While […]

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