#BlackLivesMatter Protest at U.S. Senator Ron Wydens Town Hall Pt. 1

Don't Shoot PDX, (  / dontshootpdx  ) a Portland -based 'Black Lives Matter' solidarity group of activists, have come under fire recently in the media for allegedly interrupting a town hall meeting with Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) while he was awarding U.S. Navy veteran Dario Raschio. About 100 activists entered the town hall meeting chanting, however they did allow the Senator to complete the presentation to the 100 year-old veteran. Late Monday night, Montel Williams, a Black TV host and actor had some words for Don't Shoot PDX as well. Elon James White, along with activists affiliated with Don't Shoot PDX quickly took to Twitter to engage Montel Williams' disapproval. Many Don't Shoot PDX activists informed Williams, and those following the threads, that the event was in fact a town hall meeting and not an awards ceremony as called out by Williams. I contacted Portland community activist, Teressa Raiford, who was aware of the dialogue happening online. Raiford explained, "TPP activists were at the town hall with Senator Wyden to ask him to vote no on Trans Pacific Partnership." She also questioned why the Senator would choose to honor the Navy veteran at a town hall meeting where Portland activists, including vets, showed up to discuss Fast Track and TPP. Raiford added, "Don't Shoot PDX was encouraged to attend the town hall meeting by activists who also had concerns about police militarization in urban communities in Portland." As reported by Oregon Live, activists didn't have the chance to voice their concerns Senator Wyden who left the meeting early. Senator Wyden held a meeting with a smaller group privately. Also unreported, DSP was invited to the Senator's town hall event in Beverton, OR and DSP would get the opportunity to speak to him directly, which they declined. According to 'Brain Garbage', Beaverton police officer, Jason Sery was on Senator Wyden's security detail at the Beaverton town hall meeting. Sery resigned from the Portland police department in 2004, the year he killed unarmed James Jahar Perez. In Sery's resignation statement, he said that his resignation was unrelated to shooting death of Perez. Montel Williams suggested told Don't Shoot PDX to issue an apology for the "confusion" and to the vet. Don't Shoot PDX replied with a request for Williams' to post a picture with the "Hands Up" gesture. Whether Don't Shoot PDX apologizes or Montel posts the picture or not, the dialogue was worth it. All the Best SUPPORT INDIE MEDIA Stash. http://istashley.com/2015/01/06/shots... making good things better.