PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Four self-proclaimed socialists on the Portland City Council held a press conference promising investigate local arms shipments to Israel and encouraged other cities to join.
At a virtual press conference on Friday, Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane, Council Member Mitch Green, Council Member Samir Kanal and Council Member Angelita Morillo vowed to “investigate the production and transportation of weapons to Israel within their city limits, as well as investigate any other complicity of the city in Israel's illegal occupation.” apartheid or genocide against Palestinians.”
'Uncertainty': Earthquake-ready Burnside Bridge moved due to federal funding
Leader Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) organized this press conference and Portland City Council members are members of this group. Two other “progressive allies” also support the pledge: Councilor Candace Avalos and Councilor Jamie Dunphy, according to the report DSA Instagram post.
For now: It's unclear what City Council members' investigation into Israel-related investments will look like in practice.
KOIN 6 News asked four advisers why they are tackling international issues when there are legitimate local problems, namely drug addiction, homelessness, untreated mental illness, failing infrastructure and growing budget deficits.
Portland City Councilman Mitch Green on Northwest politics, August 29, 2025 (KOIN)
Portland City Council Member Tiffany Koyama Lane, March 17, 2025 (KOIN)
Portland City Council Member Angelita Morillo May 19, 2025 (KOIN)
Portland District 2 City Councilman Samir Kanal at Portland State University on April 7, 2025 (KOIN)
A common argument among council members was that dollars spent on military weapons could be better used to support the people of Portland.
“By taking action at the local level, we can create a political mandate that will then lead to our federal elected officials doing their job, which is to check this administration and make sure that we don't…send billions of dollars overseas to kill brown people overseas and then instead invest in infrastructure at home,” Greene said.
The channel said that when “we bring those dollars home, we're helping Portland businesses, we're helping revitalize our economy.”
“Every dollar that goes to bombing and maiming innocent people abroad is a dollar that is not spent on our infrastructure here at home,” Morillo added.
Lane, the council's vice president, said, “The same companies and technologies that are causing destruction in Gaza are also being used against the people of Portland, especially immigrants, refugees and people peacefully protesting. So it has to do with what's happening in our own neighborhoods.”
Mayor Wilson warns ICE facility 'disaster awaited' in Newsweek article
But when KOIN 6 News asked for specific examples of where Portland produces weapons for Israel, no one addressed the issue. When KOIN 6 News later reached out to a spokesperson for the mayor's office, they were unable to answer the question.
To be clear, KOIN 6 News called the pledge at a press conference “symbolic” because it would have to come in the form of a resolution or ordinance and be approved by a vote of the 12-member City Council.
No official action can take place outside of a public meeting without a quorum of 7 councilors. They currently have no such support, although they are encouraging other council members to join them.
City officials confirmed that nothing is currently planned that would lead to an actual resolution or ordinance.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, visit KOIN.com.
