Asian American Harassment | Climate Change Order | Census

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Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Asian Americans have reported an increase in racist harassment and attacks across the United States. West Linn student Summer Tan recently wrote about experiencing xenophobia in the West Linn Tidings. We talk with Tan and with Duncan Hwang, the associate director of the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, about how Asian Americans in the Portland metro area have been affected by the pandemic.

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Before the novel coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic, the big story in Oregon legislative politics was the walkout by state Republicans to prevent Democrats from passing a cap-and-trade bill. Without a quorum, Democratic lawmakers were not able to pass the bill and the 2020 session ended. In response, Gov. Kate Brown issued a 14-page executive order that directs sweeping changes to mitigate climate change. Angus Duncan, who heads the state’s Global Warming Commission, breaks down exactly what’s in the order, the changes it mandates, and how Oregonians will be affected.

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The 2020 census is underway, but the coronavirus pandemic has delayed or canceled some training and field operations. That could make historically undercounted communities even harder to count. Esperanza Tervalon-Garrett, campaign manager for We Count Oregon, tells us about the campaign’s outreach efforts during the pandemic.

Emily Cureton

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