Opinion

A rally for sex workers’ rights outside the Scottish Parliament in 2020. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images On Thursday, July 15th, the first-ever Human Rights Commission Event for Oregon Sex Workers is being held in Portland. Our commission is asking voters and the Oregon Legislature for full decriminalization of anti-prostitution laws, so that we […]

Hey dear readers and pals! It’s official: You love the Mercury, and want to keep us going! In our recent reader survey, you let us know very clearly that our work is important, necessary, and you want more of it. (Nice!) You also let us know that you want to keep contributing (or start)—but it’s […]

A Portland police officer stands during a July 2020 racial justice protest. MATHIEU LEWIS-ROLLAND Despite persistently low union density, support for unions is at a historic high in the United States, with 65 percent of Americans supporting them, according to a recent MIT study. This rise in support alongside the even more explosive reemergence of […]

Anthony Keo Dearest reader friends! It ain’t no joke: This past year almost flattened us. But here we are on the other side, and with YOU… for which we are eternally grateful! Thanks to your recurring monthly contributions, the Mercury is now in a position to rebuild, and once again we’re asking for your help. […]

Screenshot from KOIN News Citizens of Portland: I regret to inform you that the internet has given birth to yet another tiring, thoughtless “Portland is dying” think piece—this one courtesy of KOIN news. I can’t imagine that viewers were clamoring for such a story, since it’s been done (so terribly) before, but KOIN’s recent article […]

Mikkel William / Getty images Good news, Oregon: The fourth-wave spike of giant murderous aliens plaguing the state in the last couple months is finally starting to recede, and today the Portland area is moving from “extreme murderous alien” to simply “high murderous alien” on Gov. Kate Brown’s alien risk chart. Thousands of Oregonians are […]

eyecrave / Getty images In February, Oregon State Rep. Rob Nosse of Portland proposed a bill, since tabled, that would invalidate three of Oregon’s main prostitution statutes, which would result in the decriminalization of the sale of sex, the purchase of sex, and the “promotion” of sex—a vague catch-all statute that makes it easier to […]

maiteali / iStock / Getty Images Hey pals and buddies! “Whooooooo! Whoooooo!” Hold on… what’s that sound? Why… the VACCINE TRAIN’S A-COMIN’! And people, let me tell you, when it’s my turn to get a vaccine—which should be within a week or so—I’m going to fall face first on it! That’s how excited I am! […]

In remembrance. I have listed the victims in descending age order because in the Asian culture our elders are afforded the highest respect. The names are in white as it is the color of mourning in many East Asian traditions. Janey Wong Dear AAPI fam, Please protect your energy. We are not only dealing with […]

WilleeCole / iStock / Getty Images Plus HELLO, CHAMPIONS! First, here’s your semi-regular reminder that you are AMAZING, and I can’t wait to see you again out in the “real world.” (Obviously there’s only one world… the one we’re in right now. What I mean is that I can’t wait to see you in the […]

blair Stenvick There’s a paragraph in an Oregonian article published last Thursday morning that just doesn’t sit right with me. The paragraph is from an article suggesting Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty was a suspect in a Wednesday hit-and-run in Southeast Portland. The piece quickly gained widespread attention, amplifying allegations which until that point […]

damedeeso /iStock / Getty Images Plus / Mercury Staff Greetings, Sweet Peas! Woo-hoo, let’s dip into the mailbag! Here’s a letter from Richard B. of Portland, who takes issue with a recent “crudely casual” story written by the Mercury. “FYI: I would never consider subscribing or otherwise supporting any ‘news’ organization that casually uses the […]