We at the Love Portland Group believe that housing is a human right and that stable housing creates opportunities for health, wealth, and happiness. We have always worked to defend the right of anyone to pursue homeownership and strived to create an environment of inclusion and respect.
I want to take this opportunity today to say to our Black family, friends, and neighbors: we hear you, we believe you, and we understand that this has not been enough. We are deeply sorry for the pain and trauma you have experienced and understand that we have a role in this by upholding the system that is causing this pain. We don't want to be part of a society that systematically devalues people due to skin color, but that is what we have done.
As the great Maya Angelou said, "I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better." We pledge to dig deep into our psyche and cure this disease that has infected us. We pledge to be not just not racist but anti-racist. I hope you all feel free to hold us accountable and to join us in doing better.
