Newberg supports its immigrant neighbors.

That’s the message we hope to share at the October 5 Pack City Hall event, and we would love for you to join us.

Fundamentally, we want this to be a respectful and peaceful event, free of violence of any kind. We are asking that the mayor and councilors listen and learn. We are committed to doing our part to maintain a respectful, peaceful environment and to avoid confrontation, hostility or anything that could escalate tensions.

We simply want to bear witness to those who have suffered so much in our community and who deserve our love and support. This is one small, simple way we can “pray with our feet” by standing in solidarity with people who may be too afraid– or simply unwilling –to put themselves in potentially hostile environments.

We have all seen the ways our neighbors have been terrorized and made to fear for their safety in a community where they should feel secure. Under the banner of “immigration enforcement,” our neighbors no longer feel safe to work, shop, send their children to school, or attend church. There is legitimate fear and heartache running through our community. 

Many fear being deported, or being sent to countries where they have never lived, detained in inhumane conditions, or harmed by enforcement actions. There are also painful reverberations from the trauma of having fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, picked up and effectively “disappeared.”

The Pack City Hall event is our chance to say: Enough. Enough of the violence. Enough of the dehumanizing treatment. Enough of the targeted hate. We’ve also had enough of city leaders choosing silence while their constituents live in fear. 

Here’s what you need to know

• When: Monday, October 5, at 5:40 p.m.

• Where: Gather in front of the Newberg City Public Safety building before the city council meeting. 401 E 3rd St, Newberg.

• Each participant will receive a picture of an immigrant who has been harmed by ICE, including images of 12 Yamhill County residents who have been detained and 77 people nationwide who have died in connection with ICE activity.

• During the council meeting, we will quietly and respectfully hold our signs and listen to the public comments. A few planned comments will be made to the council, including comments from representatives of UNIDOS. It’s public comment time, so there may be other comments.

• After the public comments, we will leave the city council chambers as quietly as possible, then walk to the flagpole for a vigil.

• We have a beautiful banner for the front of our group, designed by a local resident. It reads:

“Caminamos en Solidaridad con Nuestros Vecinos” “We Walk in Solidarity with Our Neighbors”

• Friendsview residents: Transportation will be available from Friendsview to the council meeting, from the meeting to the flagpole, and back to Friendsview. If you would like a ride, meet at the main entrance at 5:30 p.m.

• Lawn chairs will be available at the flagpole for those who need to sit.

• Wear yellow! Yellow signifies our solidarity with our immigrant neighbors.

• It will be dark at the flagpole and potentially cold, so please dress accordingly.

• There will be a guest speaker at the flagpole. We will read the names of people who have died in connection with ICE activity over the past two years. We will end by honoring and sharing information about Yamhill County residents who have been detained by ICE. Tealight candles will be available for everyone.

Please help keep the event peaceful

Because of safety concerns, some volunteers will be providing security for the event. There may also be people at the council meeting or the flagpole who disagree with our message and may try to provoke conflict.

Please do not take the bait. If someone attempts to provoke you, remain calm, disengage, and allow security volunteers to address the situation.

Our goal is to stand together peacefully and respectfully in solidarity with our immigrant neighbors. 

Please join us at this important event.