Stand Up Against Violence During COVID-19

News Article
Published

As Portlanders band together to slow the spread of COVID-19, it’s also necessary that every person in our city to join the fight to stop gun violence.

Portland is currently experiencing unprecedented public safety issues, including a major surge in gun violence. There have been 483 non-homicide shootings in Portland in 2020 as of September 2 (does not include self-inflicted shootings). By that same time last year, there had been only 299 shooting, meaning that we’ve seen 61.5% increase since last year. July and August 2020 have been particularly devastating. There were 15 homicides in July, making it the deadliest month Portland has seen in 30 years. On top of that, there were 102 non-lethal shootings in July and 116 in August.

Both COVID-19 and the current uptick in gun violence are serious public safety risks in our communities, and both have an outsize effect on our City’s Black residents and other residents of color. According to Multnomah County, Black, indigenous and other people of color represent 40 percent of COVID-19 cases, despite comprising only 30 percent of residents. Gun violence also disproportionately impacts Portland’s communities of color, particularly Black Portlanders. While African Americans make up only 5.7% of the city’s population, 50.8% of the city’s shooting victims and suspects are African American.

Both the increase in gun violence and COVID-19 have left many residents feeling isolated and scared to interact with others. Entering public spaces, once a safe and healthy activity, now feels dangerous for many of us.

We are living in unprecedented times. However, we are not powerless.

We know that there are ways to slow the spread of COVID-19, including staying home when possible, maintaining social distance, and wearing masks when we need to leave our homes. Similarly, there are practical actions we can all take to prevent gun violence.

Here are some actions you can take to help reduce gun violence (list inspired by the Philadelphia Office of Violence Prevention):

Find alternatives to violence.

It’s normal to feel isolated in challenging times, but it’s important to remember that you are not alone. If you or someone you know needs help finding alternatives to violence, there are resources available. You can call the Portland Police Bureau’s Crisis Response Team at 503-823-0000, which aims to intervene in traumatic incidents in the community by offering crisis counseling, emotional and bereavement support, and improved communication among all groups who are affected by traumatic incidents. You can also contact Resolutions Northwest, which offers neighborhood mediation services, by calling 503-595-4890 or emailing info@resolutionsnorthwest.org. Persons impacted by violence can request a referral to social services by contacting Hiag Brown, the Trauma and Violence Impacted Family Coordinator at the Portland Industrialized Opportunities Center, at hbrown@portlandoic.org.

Share what you know.

If you have important information that could help break the cycle of violence, please speak out. You can provide a tip to Portland Police Bureau Crime Stoppers by calling 503-823-HELP (4357) or you can submit a tip online. You can also text a tip: text CRIMES (274637) with “823HELP” in the body of the text, followed by the tip. You can remain anonymous, and your tip could save lives.

Keep Portland clean.

Take action to keep your neighborhood clean, since degradation of public spaces can encourage crime. Report illegal dumping in public areas by calling the Metro Recycling Hotline at 503-234-3000 or using this online form. To report illegal dumping on private property, you can call the Bureau of Development Services Code Enforcement Line at 503-823-2633 or email CodeC@portlandoregon.gov. You can also report graffiti to the City of Portland using this online form, emailing graffiti@portlandoregon.gov, or calling 503-823-4824.

Seek support.

If you suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance abuse, or other mental health issues, you can learn about locally available services for people with and without insurance at Multnomah County’s Mental Health Services webpage. You can find a list of local 24-hour crisis lines that might be helpful at this City of Portland webpage, and you can call 503-823-4000 to connect with City and County government offices that could be helpful for your particular situation. You can also call Multnomah County’s 24/7 crisis line at 503-988-4888 (toll free at 800-716-9769). Hearing impaired individuals should dial 711. If you are having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), available 24/7.

Identify domestic violence and seek support.

If you are experiencing abuse in your relationship, feel scared of your partner, or know someone who is being abused, call or text the Call to Safety Crisis Line at 503-235-5333 (to call toll-free, dial 1-888-235-5333), available 24/7. You can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. If you cannot safely call or reach out for help online, ask a person you trust to make the call.

Safely store all firearms.

If you are a gun owner, store your firearms unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition. If your firearm has been lost or stolen, please contact the Portland Police Bureau by calling the non-emergency line at 503-823-3333 or by using the online reporting system here. The safest home is one without guns, but responsible gun ownership will keep our communities safer.

Advocate for laws against illegal guns.

Make sure your voice is heard. Our state and federal legislators have the power to keep us safer by changing public safety laws. You can learn about Oregon’s current gun laws here. To find your state and federal representatives, you can visit the Oregon State Legislature search tool here.

Each of us must continue the fight against COVID-19 by acting upon public health guidelines. Equally important is acting now to help stop gun violence in our communities. These dual public health threats are daunting, but there are practical steps we can all take to work toward a safer future.

To learn more about the City of Portland’s Office of Violence Prevention, you can contact Policy Manager Tom Peavey at tom.peavey@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-4180.

Sincerely,

Nike Greene, Director

Office of Violence Prevention