38 Bend leaders condemn hate, decry violence ahead of 2 weekend rallies
(Update: Adding info on rallies, organizer's comments, video)
Organizer: 'It's not a white supremacist movement in any shape or form'
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A Trump 2020 'Caravan Cruise Rally' is set to begin Saturday afternoon near Bend's Drake Park.
The Facebook event posting says the rally will include live music, guest speakers and a peaceful caravan throughout the city.
Meanwhile, the Central Oregon Peacekeepers has said it plans to hold a Bend rally on Saturday as well.
In an effort to dampen any potential trouble, a group of nearly 40 Bend and Deschutes County elected officials and religious leaders issued a joint statement Friday, saying they are "united in condemning hate" and praising peaceful protests while pledging that those who commit violence will be held accountable.
Trump rally organizer Nicky Dieringer told NewsChannel 21 on Friday that any claim of the event's involvement with white supremacy or violence is flat-out wrong.
"It's not a white supremacist movement in any shape or form," Dieringer said.
He said he plans on practicing free speech and supporting his presidential choice.
The Facebook event posting said the rally will include live music, guest speakers, and a peaceful caravan throughout the city.
Bend City Councilor Gena Goodman-Campbell said, "I have faith that our community will keep it peaceful, so we wanted to make sure to send a really clear message."
Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said he and his office will support First Amendment rights, but will crack down on anyone breaking the law.
"If anyone commits a crime, regardless of what your political beliefs are, you will be charged," Hummel said. "That's the way it's always been. That's the way it will always be."
Alongside Gena-Goodman Campbell's sentiments, Hummel says he has faith in the Bend community.
"I'm confident the Trump caravan will be peaceful," Hummel said. "We will do it the Bend way which is peaceful and respectful."
Dieringer said not only does he want a peaceful rally, but he's willing to join with other groups to open up a conversation.
"If Black Lives Matters members were to come out, I would invite them on stage and speak alongside us, because that's what it's about," Dieringer said.
Here's the elected officials' and faith leaders' joint statement, in full, released in English and Spanish, and the list of those who signed it.
LOCAL LEADERS UNITED IN CONDEMNING HATE
Bend, Oregon
October 2, 2020
As leaders in our community, we come together to speak up for tolerance, inclusivity, and love for our neighbors.
Hate has no place in Bend. Racism, white supremacy, bigotry, antisemitism and other discriminatory beliefs harm members of our community and are counter to our commitment to being a Welcoming City to all.
We stand with our community in condemning white supremacy and all other forms of hate.
We are proud of our community for taking a strong stand against racism and injustice, and for expressing its beliefs nonviolently. We know our neighbors and see that the vast majority of us embrace one another, celebrate our differences, and strive to peacefully resolve our disputes.
We are moving forward together to dismantle racist systems and beliefs that still exist in our city, state, and country. We will not slip back by embracing or failing to challenge hateful and divisive messages.
Oregon has very strong protections for freedom of speech and expression, and the Bend Police Department strives to provide all community members the ability to express their opinions freely and safely. The right to free speech, however, does not include engaging in any behavior that is defined as a crime under Oregon, federal or local law, and we will work with all our partners in the criminal justice system to ensure that people who engage in criminal behavior are held accountable.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LÍDERES LOCALES UNIDOS PARA CONDENAR EL ODIO
Como líderes de nuestra comunidad, nos unimos para promover el respeto, la igualdad y el amor por nuestros vecinos.
El odio no tiene lugar en Bend. El racismo, la supremacía blanca, el fanatismo, el antisemitismo y otras creencias discriminatorias dañan a los miembros de nuestra comunidad y son contrarios a nuestro compromiso de ser una ciudad acogedora para todos.
Apoyamos a nuestra comunidad en condenar la supremacía blanca y todos los tipos de odio.
Estamos orgullosos de nuestra comunidad por tomar una posición firme contra el racismo y la injusticia, y por expresar nuestras creencias de manera no violenta. Conocemos a nuestros vecinos y vemos que la gran mayoría de nosotros nos abrazamos, celebramos nuestras diferencias y nos esforzamos por resolver pacíficamente nuestras disputas.
Estamos avanzando juntos para desmantelar los sistemas y creencias racistas que aún existen en nuestra ciudad, estado y país. No retrocederemos al aceptar o dejar de desafiar los mensajes de odio y divisiones.
Oregon tiene protecciones muy sólidas para la libertad de expresión y el Departamento de Policía de Bend se esfuerza por brindar a todos los miembros de la comunidad la capacidad de expresar sus opiniones con libertad y seguridad. Sin embargo, el derecho a la libertad de expresión no incluye la participación en ningún comportamiento que se define como un delito según las leyes de Oregon, federales o locales, y trabajaremos con todos nuestros socios en el sistema de justicia penal para asegurar que las personas que participan en actividades criminales rindan cuentas.
All in support:
| Elected Officials: | Faith Leaders: |
| Sally Russell, City of Bend Mayor | Rev. Erika Spaet, Story Dwelling |
| Bruce Abernethy, City of Bend Mayor Pro-Tem (Vice Mayor) | Jer Swigart, Executive Director, The Global Immersion Project |
| John Hummel, Deschutes County District Attorney | Rev. Dr. Sam Adams, Bend Mennonite |
| Chris Piper, Bend City Councilor | Pete Kelley, Lead Pastor, Antioch Church |
| Gena Goodman-Campbell, Bend City Councilor | Rev. Jed Holdorph Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church |
| Barb Campbell, Bend City Councilor | Rev. Jen Stuart, Lead Pastor, Bend Church |
| Justin Livingston, Bend City Councilor | David Dealy, City Pastor, Westside Church |
| Deb Schoen, Bend Park & Recreation Board | Rev. Chris Kramer |
| Ariel Méndez, PhD, Vice Chair, Bend Park and Recreation Board | Rabbi Johanna M. Hershenson, Central Conference of American Rabbis |
| Ann Malkin, Deschutes Public Library District Board Member | Amy Kasari, Pastor of Compassion & Justice, Antioch Church |
| Nathan Hovekamp, PhD, Chair, Bend Park & Recreation Board | Tom Airey, Co-Editor, RadicalDiscipleship.net, Executive Director, Kardia Kaiomene |
| Jason Kropf, Board Member, Bend Park & Recreation District | Fr. Jose Thomas Mudakodiyil, Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church |
| Julie Craig, Bend-La Pine School District, Board of Directors Member | Linda Van Voorst, Pastor of Children’s Ministry at Antioch Church |
| Shimiko Montgomery, Bend-La Pine School Board of Directors Member | Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Lead Pastor, First Presbyterian |
| Carrie McPherson Douglass, Chair, Bend La Pine School Board of Director Member | Rev. Morgan Schmidt, Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian & Leader at Pandemic Partners |
| Melissa Barnes Dholakia, Bend-La Pine School Board of Directors Member | Lindsay Airey, LMFT, Soul Accompanier, Kardia Kaiomene |
| Amy Tatom, Bend-La Pine School Board of Directors Member | Rev Nancy Slabaugh Hart, Madras United Methodist Church |
| Dr. Stuart Young, Bend-La Pine School Board Directors Member | Rev. Andrew Hoeksema, Community Presbyterian Church Redmond |
| Caroline Skidmore, Bend-La Pine School Board of Directors Member | Rev. Erika Spaet, The Storydwelling Commun |
