Hundreds gathered at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas on Friday, Aug. 2, for U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley’s 34th town hall in Oregon this year.
Merkley, in boots and a plaid shirt, arrived early for the 6:30 p.m. event, relaxed and ready to engage with the public.
“You hear directly from folks about what’s affecting them, whether it’s mental health issues, housing issues, fire issues, managing the woods, local economy, the schools, the health care system, and that set of comments that comes in town hall after town hall helps inform my team,” Merkley said in an interview prior to the town hall.
Attendees included Oregon City Mayor Denyse McGriff, Milwaukie Mayor Lisa Batey, Clackamas Community College Board of Education member Rob Wheeler and CCC President Tim Cook. After Merkley was introduced, ticket numbers were selected by Clackamas County Commissioner Martha Schrader and community members began their questioning on issues they found important: U.S. aid to the Philippines, gun control and the makeup of the United States Supreme Court.
Most community members were calm and respectful, though at two points during the event there was a palpable tension as protesters, hidden among the crowd, stood to read out pre-written statements calling for an end to U.S. military aid to the Philippines.
Merkley asked that everyone in the group stand in show of support, but none did.
During Merkley’s closing remarks, over two dozen protesters rose from their seats as one activist read out another statement. The protesters then began chanting “U.S. out of the Philippines.”
According to a press release put out by the activists, the group included members of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP), BAYAN Oregon and Malaya Portland.
The chants continued while Merkley tried to engage in a dialogue, eventually bringing the event to a swift end.
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