Episode 65 : The War In Portland Oregon
In this conversation on race, I\u2019m joined by Kathleen Saadat veteran civil rights activist in Portland, Oregon.\xa0
Kathleen shares her observations on the demonstrations in Portland, the federal troop presence, tear gassing of demonstrators and controversies surrounding the Moms and the Dad with Leaf blowers.
Key Topics:
\u2022 The fact that there have been large numbers of Black people in Portland, Black clubs, and soul food restaurants in North and Northeast neighborhoods
\u2022 Sundown laws in Oregon but there were still Black people living there
\u2022 Protests in Portland, tear gas and attacks against protests
\u2022 Moms marching and dads coming with leaf blowers to stop the tear gas
\u2022 People who were committing violence were in the minority and mainly provocateurs
\u2022 Most protestors were peaceful
\u2022 The violence against Black people and minimization of the value of Black values
\u2022 The problem that agent provocateurs are seen as representing protestors
\u2022 How young people have been great at bringing people together for Black Lives Matter and social justice from different backgrounds and world views
\u2022 Importance of having a vision
\u2022 Why she hates cancel culture because people have been raised a certain way and we need to educate them
\u2022 Black people are a small number of people in the US and need to build coalitions \u2022 Kathleen Saadat\u2019s vision for long-term change
\u2022 How to address the need for people to understand history and how government is supposed to work
\u2022 The need for a truth and reconciliation program in every state
\u2022 How we can bring people into the equality community
\u2022 Why self-righteousness is another form of violence
\u2022 Why we need conversations instead of just canceling people
\u2022 The danger of cancel culture
\u2022 Why we have to allow people to change
\u2022 Why the Ten Point Program of the Black Panther Party is still relevant
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Bio for Kathleen Saadat
Kathleen Saadat has served Oregon\u2019s LGBTQ community as a mentor and confidant for nearly 40 years. In 1976, she and six others organized Portland\u2019s first gay rights march. Later, she\xa0worked with a team of city employees to craft the Portland\u2019s civil rights ordinance, which prohibited discrimination against gay and lesbian people and discrimination based on legal source of income. In 1992, she served on the steering committee for the campaign against Ballot Measure 9, which, had it passed, would have rendered GLBTQ people second class citizens.
An activist and advocate for African American rights and the rights of other people of color, for women\u2019s rights, and for economic justice for all, Kathleen was a planner and participant in Portland\u2019s International Women\u2019s Day Celebration..
Kathleen Saadat\xa0 has received lifetime achievement awards from in recognition of her contributions to the efforts to "Keep Living the Dream" of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She has been listed as one of \u201c100 Who Lead in Oregon\u201d by Oregon Business magazine.
She is a former member of the Oregon State University's board of visitors for minority affairs.
Contact info for Kathleen Saadat
BanLon@msn.com