Oregonians are united: Rep. Mike Nearman must be removed from office
Video evidence shows Rep. Mike Nearman opening door of the capitol building to violent extremists.
OREGON -- At a virtual news conference today, community leaders representing Oregonians across the state came together to call on state lawmakers to immediately exercise their constitutional duty and remove Rep. Mike Nearman after video security footage shows him opening the door to violent extremists and then engaging with them outside the capitol building on December 21, 2020. It was a chilling foreshadowing of the January 6 attack on our nation’s capital. Last week, the Oregonian newspaper editorial board also said that “short of a good reason for his actions,” Nearman should be removed. To this point he has offered no explanation and shown no remorse. In fact, he has used this to time attack other lawmakers and even journalists covering the story.
Under the Oregon Constitution, a lawmaker can be removed from office with 40 votes for disorderly behavior.
“Oregonians from all walks of life are horrified at the attacks on our state and nation’s capitol. Literally opening the door for the capitol to be attacked and then not taking ownership for it clearly falls into any reasonable definition of disorderly. It is, in fact, dangerous and reckless, and Rep. Nearman must be removed from office,” says Amy Herzfeld-Copple, Deputy Director of Programs for Western States Center, which has organized the effort. “We must stay united against the kind of far-right extremism that was unleashed in Salem in December and Washington, D.C. just a few weeks ago. Without accountability, anti-democratic movements and political violence will continue to grow and threaten our democracy and community safety.”
Speakers at the event represented the growing call from organizations and elected officials for Nearman to be removed from office. Groups so far include the Rural Organizing Project, the Oregon Food Bank, the Oregon Jewish Museum & Center for Holocaust Education, PCUN, SEIU, Next Up, and other groups.
“We are united in our call for accountability,” says Jeanine Morales, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon Deputy Director. She points out that in early 2020, the state capitol had to be shut down due to threats of violence preceding the GOP walkout. “The attack on the state capitol was alarming and dangerous, fed by violent rhetoric and lies. This has been going on for too long in Oregon and the temperature is increasing. Enough is enough. Rep. Nearman must be removed from office.”
Eric Richardson, Executive Director of the Eugene/Springfield NAACP also spoke, connecting the violence in Salem to the violence in D.C. to the alt-right’s long history of violence against people and institutions trying to advance justice.
“What would have happened if they had gotten past the state police? Would they have stormed the floor of the Oregon House or Senate? They had weapons. This was an affront on the laws and institutions of our state and country.” he asks. “We have seen too many leaders enabling extremists and we can stand for it no longer. Rep. Nearman must be expelled from office without delay.”
Other materials related to Rep. Nearman can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LomuOz5D5ADjO8Wh9rcPBBGdcnrYFWBZ/view?usp=sharing
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Based in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain States, Western States Center works nationwide to strengthen inclusive democracy through building movement, developing leaders, shifting culture, and defending democracy.