In the past three weeks, the Portland Police Bureau has deployed tear gas repeatedly against Oregonians demanding justice in the wake of police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade. Earlier this month, in response to a lawsuit brought forth by activist group Don’t Shoot PDX, a federal judge granted a 14-day temporary restraining order limiting PPB’s use of gas “to situations in which the lives or safety of the public or police are at risk.” This is not enough.
We are registered nurses writing on behalf of 373 health care workers. We have a responsibility to fight for health justice. Tear gas is a chemical weapon banned for military use that imposes serious health risks to anyone who comes in contact with it. These risks are especially grave for people with chronic respiratory illness such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As OHSU President Danny Jacobs indicated in a public statement recently, “the release of airborne droplets through tear-gas induced coughing could accelerate the spread of COVID-19 and lead to a surge in new cases.”
Challenging white supremacy is a matter of public health. Tear gas poses increased health risks to Black and Indigenous communities who are dying at disproportionate rates due to COVID-19. These compounding factors are tantamount to racist biological warfare.
“Do no harm” is not enough. We call for an immediate moratorium on the use of tear gas in Oregon. The governor’s office and city of Portland must heed this call if they believe that Black lives matter.
Lillian Nickerson, Portland
Julia O’Neill, Portland
Margaux Forsch, Portland
"gas" - Google News
June 21, 2020 at 09:00PM
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Readers respond: Ban use of tear gas - oregonlive.com
"gas" - Google News
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