The Southern Poverty Law Center says nearly 900 hate incidents -- including those its researchers have tracked against Trump supporters -- have been reported since the election, with 33 in Oregon. As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, it’s a high rate given the state population.
The SPLC ranks Oregon 10th nationally for reported hate incidents, but with just four million residents, that’s significant. Acts against immigrants and minorities have been most prevalent, with several reported in Eugene, Salem, and Bend as well as Portland.
While some say Donald Trump’s election has inspired these actions, the President-elect’s supporters say they too have experienced harassment and vandalism.
Wayne Lemler is Chair of the Lane County GOP.
“We have had campaign signs stolen, ripped down, and thrown into the street," says Wayne Lemler, Chair of the Lane County GOP.
"We have had people’s houses who’ve had signs…had their houses egged. We’ve had people yelled at and almost assaulted while they were putting up signs, and the infamous middle finger from many people.”
More recently, swastikas were spray-painted on some Trump campaign signs overlooking I-5.
Lemler calls the vandalism “pathetic” and “uninformed”.
A spokeswoman for Lane County says the property owner was alerted to the vandalism, and will be taking the signs down.
The SPLC is continuing to track incidents of harassment and vandalism following the election, and notes that many cases -- including those who support the President-elect -- may go unreported.