The Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC) addresses the socioeconomic disparities, institutional racism and inequity of services experienced by our families, children and communities. Our member organizations organize our communities for collective action resulting in social change to obtain self-determination, wellness, justice, and prosperity. We do this throughout Oregon, including Clackamas County, where many we serve live, work, worship, and raise their families.
The recent abhorrent, unconscionable, and dehumanizing comments that have come to light from the social media accounts of recently-elected Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull, comments which revealed his untrammeled opinions on Muslim residents and others in his county, are incompatible with the high integrity, leadership, and public service required of an elected official, along with being incompatible with basic human decency.
As such, CCC unequivocally condemns his statements concerning Muslims, Black people, immigrants and refugees, transgender folks, and others, in the strongest possible terms. We wish to add our full-throated opposition to his continued presence as a Clackamas County Commissioner to the scores of legislators, organizations and residents who have already done so. We demand Commissioner Shull submit his resignation immediately. The residents of Clackamas County deserve a commissioner advocating for all residents without fear or favor.
To their credit—and as a stark reminder to Mr. Shull of how misplaced his perspectives on our Muslim community are—CCC member organization the Muslim Educational Trust, along with a group of our local Muslim and other faith organizations has demonstrated extraordinary generosity and reached out to Mr. Shull to invite him into conversation at one of their mosques to learn about Islam and our Muslim community members.
As recent state and national events have made clear, there is no place for racism and xenophobia—and the violent attacks on community members and on our democracy that they fuel—in the shared space we call the United States, particularly when those ideas are fueled by ignorance rather than understanding, and certainly not when those ideas are nestled in the heart and mind of an elected official representing and making decisions for the wellbeing of tens of thousands of Clackamas County residents.
After considering all of these factors, CCC believes this final, simple fact:
Mark Shull is absolutely unfit to serve in office and must resign immediately. We call upon all members of our community to be in solidarity and join us in this demand.
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Africa House
Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO)
Asian Family Center
Coalition of Communities of Color
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)
Latino Network
Unite Oregon
Verde