January 13, 2021
We Call on the Leaders of the Oregon Legislature to Hold Rep. Mike Nearman Accountable for His Actions Aiding Far-Right Extremists in Their Attack on the Oregon Capitol Building on December 21, 2020 by Expelling Him from Office Per the Oregon Constitution
Rep. Nearman has been exposed for secretly holding a door open for the rioters that invaded and ransacked Oregon’s Capitol Building on December 21, 2020. Inside, legislators, planning further mitigations to control the COVID-19 pandemic in the state, were threatened by the invasion.
The rioters, brandishing long guns, pitchforks and Trump flags, repeatedly assaulted the law enforcement officers attempting to protect legislators. It was a day of violence and extremism, a foreshadowing of the now infamous violent mob assault against our nation’s Capitol on January 6th.
As Oregonians, we trust our elected officials to act with integrity on behalf of the people they represent. When they aid in the disruption of the democratic process, it is a violation of that trust. By letting violent demonstrators into the Capitol Building, Representative Nearman jeopardized the safety of his colleagues, Oregon State Police, and others while emboldening those who support white nationalism and other anti-democratic movements.
With his alleged actions, Rep. Nearman joins the ranks of other seditious elected officials who sought to undermine our democracy on January 6th.
We are living through an era of emboldened extremism and increasing paramilitarism and, if left unchecked, it will lead to political violence for years to come. Safeguarding our democracy will take a concerted effort by elected leaders to reject organized bigotry and anti-democratic movements.
Defending democracy includes standing up to bad actors like Rep. Nearman. Article IV, Section 15 of the Oregon Constitution says, “Either house may punish its members for disorderly behavior, and may with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member.” We encourage you to use this power and expel Rep. Nearman.
Rep. Nearman’s actions to support the rioters represents a continuation of his support of extremist causes. Nearman works as a senior fellow with the “Freedom" Foundation, an organization with ties to white supremacists and anti-LGBTQ organizations. Recently, the "Freedom" Foundation has become a COVID denialist organization, frivolously suing the State of Oregon over public health measures while spreading misinformation about the virus. Nearman has also been on the board of directors of a hate group classified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as “the most prominent anti-immigrant group in [Oregon].”
This is a time of reckoning for our nation, and for our great state. Elected leaders: we are relying on you to protect our democracy through these difficult times.
Eric K. Ward, Executive Director, Western States Center
Peter Starzynski, Executive Director, Northwest Accountability Project
Marchel Hirschfield, Political Director, APANO
Taryn Bazurto, Chair, Benton County Democrats
Isa Peña, Executive Director, Causa Oregon
Marcus C. Mundy, Coalition of Communities of Color
Mary Chaffin, Act for Democracy, Consolidated Oregon Indivisible Network
Nancy Haque, Executive Director, Basic Rights Oregon
KC Hanson, Chair, Democratic Party of Oregon
Eric C. Richardson, Executive Director, Eugene/Springfield NAACP
Heather Stuart, Fair Shot For All Coalition
Family Forward Oregon
Forward Together Action
Carina Perez Europa, Chair, Marion County Democrats
Christel Allen, Executive Director, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon
Samantha Gladu, Executive Director, Next Up & Next Up Action Fund
Graham Trainor, President, Oregon AFL-CIO
Trent Lutz, Oregon Education Association
Susannah Morgan, CEO, Oregon Food Bank
Ana del Rocío, Oregon Futures Lab
Judy Margles, Director, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
Joel Iboa, Oregon Just Transition Alliance
Doug Moore, Executive Director, Oregon League of Conservation Voters
Kell Campbell, Executive Director, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility
Deborah Riddick, GR Director, Oregon Nurses Association
Andrew Rogers, Executive Director, Oregon Student Association
Sean Stevens, Executive Director, Oregon Wild
Danita Harris, OWFP State Director, Oregon Working Families Party
Becca Uherbelau, Executive Director, Our Oregon
Reyna Lopez, Executive Director, PCUN
An Do, Interim Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon
Portland Jobs With Justice
Brad Reed, Campaign Manager, Renew Oregon
Jess Campbell, Executive Director, Rural Organizing Project
Salem City Councilor - Ward 2 Tom Andersen
Salem City Councilor - Ward 6 Chris Hoy
Salem City Councilor - Ward 7 Vanessa Nordyke
Salem City Councilor - Ward 3 Trevor Phillips
Meg Niemi, President, SEIU Local 49
Melissa Unger, Executive Director, SEIU Local 503
Springfield-Eugene Chapter, Showing Up for Racial Justice
Dan Clay, UFCW Local 555
Ricardo Moreno, Interim Executive Director, Verde
Roger Worthington, Worthy Brewing Co.
Yamhill County Commissioner Casey Kulla
Omar Sandoval, Chair, Yamhill County Democrats
This letter is sponsored by Western States Center, a 501 c3 organization, and is intended for c3 permissible use.