May 21, 2026 Dear ROPnet, The dust is starting to settle, but the energy of this year’s Rural Caucus and Strategy Session lives on and will continue to ripple outwards from each of the more than 200 people who made the weekend so transformational. For those of you who were with us, thank you! We […]
Read MoreDefending Human Dignity
Rural Organizing Project Files Lawsuit Against Oregon State Police for Sharing Oregonians’ Personal Data with ICE
OSP Allowed Federal Immigration Agencies to Access Oregon Data 1.4 Million Times Last Year SALEM, Ore.—Rural Organizing Project (ROP), a statewide nonprofit, filed a lawsuit in Multnomah County court to stop Oregon State Police from sharing Oregonians’ personal data with federal immigration agents. ROP says federal immigration agencies have exploited access to Oregonians’ information 1.4 […]
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The United States is turning 250. Let’s talk about it.
March 2, 2026 Dear ROPnet, Oregon Humanities is hosting conversations in communities across the state as part of a project called Beyond 250. Read more below! As the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaches in 2026, Oregon Humanities is getting people together to talk about democracy, freedom, and what it means to be […]
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Honoring Marcy Westerling’s Leadership
I became political because of stories. I stay political because of stories. – Marcy Westerling, ROP’s Founding Director January 22, 2026 Dear ROPnet, As we embark on our second year under rising authoritarianism, we have been reflecting on the origins of ROP and revisiting the visionary leadership of Marcy Westerling, ROP’s Founding Director. 2025 marked the 10-year […]
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Save the Date: Caucus 2026!
January 15, 2026 Dear ROPnet, It’s hard to believe we’re only 15 days into 2026, with all that’s happened. One thing that hasn’t changed: we’re going to need each other’s support and guidance to make it through this year. One place you’re sure to get enough of that to lift your spirit and fill your tank […]
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Lessons Learned from a Hard Season of Detention Response
Rural Oregonians believe in looking out for our neighbors. ROP has been working towards rural communities that are safe and welcoming for all since our founding in 1992. This fall and winter, our safety has decreased dramatically as ICE scaled up and intensified its violent kidnapping of community members across the state. In the past few […]
Read More2025 Year in Review | Rural Organizing Project
It’s been a hard and scary year, but there’s also so much that’s worth celebrating. Human Dignity Groups across rural Oregon are combining small acts to form tidal waves of resistance. As a network, we are loudly defying the notion that rural communities will sit back and accept federal overreach and violence in our communities. […]
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“A Comprehensive Freaking Uproar”
We know that many of you have been closely following what’s been going on in Newport since early November, when we first learned of the threat of a new ICE prison. We wanted to share this latest update from Representative David Gomberg because it so powerfully shows the response, which has been a resounding “Hell […]
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KTA: Protect Your Neighbors from ICE
WHY THIS ACTIVITY? ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents have more than doubled detentions in the past few weeks, and their violent tactics against Oregonians are only getting more extreme. Meanwhile, the National Guard deployment to Portland is held up in the courts but could occur at any time. Amidst all of this violence against […]
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KTA: Oregon is home, not a military target
WHAT IS THIS ACTIVITY? Join thousands of Oregonians from every part of the state who are jumping into action to tell the Trump Administration: NO TROOPS IN OREGON. There are multiple ways to plug in this month, so keep reading! (P.S. We’re also thinking about how to use this federal abuse of power as a way […]
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