Governor Brown has abandoned the metrics that have guided the state’s effort to safely re-open schools for in-person instruction, and that have been a key strategy in keeping community spread relatively low. Unfortunately, Oregon is moving in the wrong direction. The new landscape in DC creates the possibility of real progress toward economic justice, protecting the climate, and reversing racism in all the ways it is built into our society.Īnd starting January 20 th, we also have new hope that our nation’s elected leaders will enact policies that will get this pandemic under control, and will give public schools the support we will need for a safe return to in-person instruction. The historic victories for Senators Raphael Warnock and John Ossoff in Georgia are the result of years of organizing by Black leaders like Stacy Abrams, and so many others. Last Wednesday morning, we also found reason to hope.

We are all still processing what occurred and what it means-thank you for the important role you have in helping your students do the same. And it once again illustrated the racist reality of our country’s policing practices. This was the culmination of four years of hate and misinformation coming from our nation’s highest office.

Last Wednesday, we saw a mob overtake the US Capital in an effort to subvert certification of the November election results and the transition of power. It has been a jarring week for our democracy.

Pdx subvert