Press Release
The Rev. Kate Lore and The Rev. Chuck Currie will lead a delegation of clergy to monitor the planned eviction of Occupy Oregon from Portland area parks.
Lore is the social justice minister at Portland's First Unitarian Church and Currie is a minister in the United Church of Christ.
"Many clergy from across Oregon and the nation have supported the Occupy Wall Street movement. We commend the non-violent nature of the protests and appreciate thus far the response from Mayor Sam Adams and the Portland Police Bureau," said Lore and Currie. "At this time, however, we call on Mayor Adams and the Police Bureau to act with the utmost restraint on Saturday night. Violence of the sort seen in Oakland cannot be tolerated. We will be watching."
"We also call on the demonstrators at Occupy Oregon to remain non-violent. The issues raised by the Occupy Wall Street are important and must be heard. Violence will overshadow the message about equality that Americans must face," said Currie and Lore.
Lore and Currie are in touch with other clergy in the Metro area who have expressed support for Occupy Oregon and plan to be present throughout the night to bear witness to the events as a show of solidarity with the protestors. "Our prayers are with the protestors, the police and the mayor during this difficult moment," said Lore and Currie. "We believe the Occupy Wall Street movement to be a prophetic act that deserves support."
Below please find an Interfaith Statement also released today:
We, the undersigned faith leaders of Portland, Oregon, affirm and see in the spirit of Occupy Portland and the Right 2 Dream Too the power of community, call to compassion and democracy and justice renewed. The Occupy movement in particular has called into question both the inequities and inhumanity in much of our country’s political and economic system.
Our religious traditions are clear: We are called to lift up the needs of those living on the margins and to challenge the inequities that impoverish the many for the benefit of the few. The voices of our neighbors are clear: the American dream is compromised; the stability and well being of many of our people are slipping away; and in our politics, honesty and fairness are dissipating. We identify with the protestors concerns regarding militarism, political and economic inequality and the onrushing crisis of climate change and insist that these concerns must be discussed and acted upon at all levels of American society.
While we may differ as to the tactics of these movements and their future, we urge that differences be resolved in a spirit of mutual respect and nonviolence and that the use of force is antithetical to these values. We ask that the primary focus of the public debate be not about forms of protest but rather on the larger spiritual, moral and ethical questions that these occupations raise.
We therefore commit ourselves to the restoration of justice for all in our economy and compassion in our politics and that together we might behold a revolution of values for all of our people. We ask all Oregonians to join us in this commitment and to listen attentively to the needs, hopes and dreams expressed by all who are suffering and dispossessed. In doing so, we join together in democracy renewed and the building of a nation of possibility for all persons.
Rev. Dr. John Paul Davis, Minister for Outreach, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Parish
Pastor Dennis Andersen, St. James Lutheran Church
Rev. Kate Lore, Social Justice Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church
Rabbi Michael Cahana, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Beth Israel
Rev. Dr. William Sinkford, Senior Pastor, First Unitarian Universalist Church
Rev. Dennis Parker, Rector, St Stephen’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. Anton DeWet, Senior Pastor, First Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. David Wheeler, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church
Mr. David Leslie, Executive Director, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Pastor Dennis Andersen, St. James Lutheran Church
Rev. Kate Lore, Social Justice Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church
Rabbi Michael Cahana, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Beth Israel
Rev. Dr. William Sinkford, Senior Pastor, First Unitarian Universalist Church
Rev. Dennis Parker, Rector, St Stephen’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. Anton DeWet, Senior Pastor, First Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. David Wheeler, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church
Mr. David Leslie, Executive Director, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
