Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

On July 23rd, 2020, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility offered this testimony on Police Accountability Legislative Concepts, with a focus on the health impacts of tear gas and flashbang or pressure grenades. We support the concerns raised in the joint testimony submitted by Unite Oregon, PAALF, Urban League, Rose City Justice, and other organizations.

The latest episodes of Prescription for Justice, hosted by Oregon PSR Advisory Board Member Dr. Martin Donohoe, are available online. Please check this page for future updates and episodes.

"It has been shocking to see the clouds of tear gas filling American cities and images of peaceful protesters and bystanders caught up in them."

Portland police use tear gas against protesters in downtown Portland. Photo credit: KOIN-6.

We commend and support Portland City Commissioners Jo Ann Hardesty and Chloe Eudaly for calling for a ban on the use of tear gas on protesters demanding justice for Black Lives. We also applaud and support Commissioner Hardesty for calling for the removal of the Gun Violence Reduction Team (formerly known and still behaving as the Gang Enforcement Team), School Resource Officers, and Transit Police from the Portland Police Bureau's budget.

Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) mourns the death of George Floyd and condemns the practices of police brutality that historically and currently target Black communities and communities of color. 

Read Oregon PSR’s letter to Governor Brown detailing our concerns and about incarcerated Oregonians during the Covid-19 pandemic.

On May 18th, 2020, nearly 100 medical professionals and public health experts sent a letter to Oregon leaders asking for wildfire resilience measures to be funded as a preventative measure to protect from smoke during the Oregon wildfire season. Early evidence shows that exposure to fine particulate matter in smoke and air pollution may greatly increase COVID-19 mortality rates. By investing in preventative measures such as wildfire education and air filtration in homes and shelters, Oregon leaders can help increase resilience to COVID-19 as the summer wildfire season intensifies.

We know that young people are vitally important in creating a better world now and for future generations. For the twelfth consecutive year, we have organized the Greenfield Peace Writing Scholarship to encourage Oregon’s youth to reflect on some of the most pressing issues of our time. On Saturday, April 25th, we honored the 2020 high school student winners at our online awards ceremony. The theme of the evening was the intersection between climate justice and immigrant justice.

Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument

The Pacific Northwest is famous for its incredible forests, ecosystems with incredible biodiversity that also serve as an irreplaceable asset for reducing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Fires are a natural part of forest health, yet the smoky air that results can harm human lungs. Experts agree that 2020 will likely be an intense fire season at a time when respiratory health is even more important because of COVID.

Oregon PSR is thrilled to announce the high school student winners of the 2020 Greenfield Peace Writing Scholarship. The winning entries were selected from among 80 submissions by high school juniors and seniors from across the state of Oregon. The student winners, who will be honored for their essays, poems, or stories, responded to the following writing prompt:

“How would an effective movement for climate justice benefit immigrant communities?”