(PORTLAND)— Ashley Johnson is pleading for help.
The resident, mother and partner read off a piece of paper to more than 12 officials. The words jumped off the page with euniciation as she described an incident between her partner and ICE agents outside their daughter’s school.
“The other day my partner was driving to work, passing our daughter’s school, when he noticed ICE agents, face covered and guns strapped to their chests, surrounding a woman against the windows that my daughter and her classmates look out during their school days,” Johnson said. “A moment of panic washed over him, as he tried to stop them from, at the very least, moving the detainment to anywhere but in front of a school."
Then, he was "met with the blindness of pepper gel in his eyes,” Johnson said.
“Do we want our children to grow up in a world where they look out their windows to see scary men disguised and holding guns, cornering people, as they shake in fear for their lives?" she asked. "Or worse, do we want to grow up in a world where children are ripped from their parents, put in inhumane environments and sent off to random countries?"
She had one more ask.
"Regardless of your political stance, what about the children," Johnson posed.
Portland City Council meeting on Nov. 12, where Ashley Johnson asked 12 people to help her
Johnson told officials that South Waterfront residents are constantly reminded of the poor decision-making in our country.
"From the military helicopter shaking our windows to children and families lined up outside the ICE facility holding their children’s hands, as they helplessly make phone call after phone call to save their families,” Johnson continued. “This is not okay; I know that you all know this is not okay."
That's when her fear became more than apparent.
"Please, city council, help us," Johnson said. "Please stand up taller for us, for the immigrants who built our country, for the children who deserve to see and feel nothing but light."
Johnson cites the win of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the strength of Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson as worthy inspiration, as she calls on the Portland City Council to bring that same strength to Portland. Across the nation, Charlotte, North Carolina, faces the ICE detention threat that OpGov.ai is also reporting.
If you have any comments, concerns or questions, contact me at rory.h@lead4earth.org.
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