Andrés Portela III is the city of Bend's director of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. 

On March 27, 2024, our community endured a profound ordeal during the Human Rights and Equity Commission (HREC) meeting. A barrage of racist threats, racial slurs, anti-Semitism, homophobia, and a description of graphic sexual violence flooded both Council chambers and our online meeting space.

In Council chambers, I saw our youths’ anguished faces, the overwhelming distress of HREC members, and city staff’s immediate response to provide care to those who experienced this abhorrent situation.

In the aftermath, crucial conversations loomed.

Should the video documenting this harrowing event stay up on YouTube? As both the new equity director and as a Black man who endured being called the N-word 19 times in that meeting, my response was unequivocal: take it down. Both the city Attorney’s Office and YouTube’s community guideline considerations support this decision, yet our community has grappled with differing perspectives over the last month, and we have listened. Some advocate for keeping the video up as a stark reminder of what hate sounds like. Others urge its removal out of respect for those affected.

But while this conversation is a part of the story, it’s not the main one. By centering the response and not the action, we gravitate to conversations that feel comfortable; we miss the point: community members experienced verbal abuse — a kind of collective trauma — in a Commission meeting in our community.

Equally vital is the discussion surrounding our response to such collective trauma. Following the incident, we prioritized care and acknowledgment for those impacted. Subsequently, we provided a comprehensive presentation on HREC’s ongoing efforts, our trajectory, and resources available through the Department of Justice for addressing bias incidents. We recognize that this incident didn’t emerge in isolation but rather stemmed from systemic issues. Central Oregon’s history, marked by exclusionary practices and racial homogeneity, underscores the urgency of our work. The future of Central Oregon isn’t rooted in sexism, racism, anti-Semitism, and anti-LGBTQ violence but in a community of belonging and inclusion.

The question echoing through our community now is, “How do we disavow ‘This isn’t me’?”

The journey begins with individual introspection. It’s about examining how systemic prejudices — racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-Semitism — affect us as individuals and as neighbors. Have we ever truly scrutinized the impact of these biases on our lives and those around us? If not, it’s time to start.

By acknowledging the marbles in our own mouths — our own hesitations and discomfort — we can pave the way for meaningful dialogue. Only then can we foster a community grounded in love and inclusion. Let’s start at the personal level, move to interpersonal connections, and then address the persistent structural inequalities.

As the diversity and inclusion director for the city of Bend and one of many stewards of equity, our mandate extends beyond mere reaction to events like these. It includes the proactive creation of inclusive spaces where all Bend residents can engage with local government. Drawing inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of the beloved community, we aspire to a future free of discrimination and hate, where opportunity, accessibility, and interdependence flourish. Achieving this necessitates a nuanced approach, one that eschews the zero-sum narratives often associated with anti-diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility sentiments. Instead, we focus on tangible actions—addressing disparities, fostering partnerships, and ensuring equitable participation—that lay the groundwork for Bend’s collective prosperity.

In the coming months, the city of Bend’s equity department will embark on initiatives to foster cultural competency, amplify marginalized voices, and leverage data to drive informed decision-making. Through collaboration with HREC, the City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee (COBAAC), and local stakeholders, we are committed to realizing a more inclusive, equitable future for all Bend residents. This work has already begun with a call to adjacent jurisdictions to work together to combat hate and discrimination. Now, more than ever, is the time for such work.

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