Oregon LWV members listen to a presentation at the LWVUS Convention
Members of the Oregon delegation to the National LWV Convention
Six members of the Portland League served as delegates to the LWVUS National Convention in Washington, D.C. from June 27-30. In addition to attending the plenaries and representing Portland, they were active in leading programming throughout the convention:
Discussion Units Coordinator Ryann Enger presented at the caucus, Can We Make the Money System Work for Democracy?
Lucy Robb was a panelist in a Friday workshop called Supporting Youth Leaders: A Panel of Youth Members in which youth League members from across the country discussed the ways in which they develop civic leadership skills and youth-led programs while creating change and engaging with their local leagues.
Robin Tokmakian helped lead three activities: a workshop about the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); a workshop on Highlights of our United Nations Work: Connecting the Dots to Impact on Issues; and the LWVUS Climate Interest Group – Actions and Resources.
Vice President Audrey Zunkel-deCoursey presented at a workshop about Portland’s Proportional Representation Success Story.
First-time delegate Lucy Robb reflected on her experience at convention:
I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to attend National Convention in Washington DC this past weekend. I was able to attend workshops, speak on a panel, meet legislative staff, and so much more. One highlight of the weekend was meeting Congresswoman Bonamici and discussing the preservation of Oregonian voting rights. Additionally, I loved meeting youth League members from across the nation. We have already started planning nationwide youth LWV initiatives. I can’t wait to see what will come next!
As part of the convention, League members from across the country lobbied their Senators and Representatives for passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Portland’s letters are available here.
We’re excited that the Rose Festival invited the League of Women Voters of Portland to march in the 2024 Grand Floral Parade on Saturday, June 8!
Our participation was fun for our marchers and provided an exciting visual element for the parade’s viewers. It was also a meaningful recognition of important milestones for our state, county and city. With all the important issues in the 2024 general election, we enjoyed celebrating the League and the work we are doing. In this key election year, it was the perfect time to raise awareness about the League!
We were a “marching entry” behind a large League banner, and with flags, sashes, and many signs (e.g. “Votes for Women” or “LWV.”) Our suffrage colors were yellow, white, and purple.
Police Accountability and Oversight Board Threatened by Proposed Initiative
The League of Women Voters of Portland and Portland Forward, with the assistance of ACLU Oregon, filed an amici curiae brief with the Multnomah County Circuit Court on April 24, 2024. The brief supported the ballot title challenge which the Dr. Rev. LeRoy Haynes, Jr. filed to a Portland Police Association initiative petition (PDX24OL-03). Dr. Rev. Haynes chairs the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform.
The initiative sought to eliminate the police oversight board’s ability to discipline officers and reduced the board’s scope of jurisdiction over police misconduct cases. This authority was given to the yet-to-be-implemented board when voters passed Measure 26-217 in 2020. The court filings from the Dr. Rev. Haynes, the League, and Portland Forward made the point that the ballot title was not an accurate summary of the impact the measure would have if passed. Circuit Court Judge Katharine von Ter Stegge ruled against the Police Association’s petition and incorporated part of the language requested by Rev. Haynes in her revision of the proposed ballot title.
