The 2018 Democratic Party of Oregon Platform
Article 10 - SOCIAL JUSTICE: Societal; Racial; Environmental; Economic
As clearly laid out in our Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, Oregon Democrats believe in the right of individuals to be treated equally and with dignity and respect, regardless of inherent characteristics such as age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, or disability, and regardless of other identifying qualities such as socioeconomic status or place of birth. We understand policy initiatives outlined throughout this platform must always take into consideration the real impact of historic racism and other forms of discrimination in order to assure that equity and justice is achieved as we move forward. We believe without first acknowledging and addressing the wrongs of the past, we cannot move forward, eradicate systematic oppression, or achieve justice for all.
Planks:
1. We believe in the right of all to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, class, residency status, disability, or other identifying qualities. We reject and condemn all racist, misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic, white supremacist, white nationalist, and fascist ideologies, organizations, and movements.
2. We support the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all the rights contained therein.
3. We support the right of everyone to the basic necessities of life including: Universal Basic Income, safety, clean air, clean water, food, shelter, health care, education, and the opportunity to thrive.
4. We are committed to protecting and ensuring our constitutional rights and freedoms including the right to assemble peacefully without penalty or threat of violence from militarized police forces. We insist fair and due process and equal treatment are provided to all under the law.
5. We disavow any attempt to restrict, discourage, or penalize individuals acting in a private capacity from expressing their views through peaceful non-violent action, criticism of government policies in the United States or those of foreign nations, and organized boycotts in order to effect political change.
6. We believe Oregon is home to women who blaze new trails in business, entrepreneurship, culture, and politics. We proudly and vigorously support a woman’s right to choose how to use her mind, body, and time. We respect women as full partners in family, in all political processes, and society overall.
7. We support equal access for women of all ages to training, jobs, and promotions, and equal pay for equal work, and the right to sue for equal pay, capital, equity, and contracts.
8. We support affirmative action, the rights accorded to women in Title IX of the United States Education Amendments of 1972, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the United States Constitution.
9. We recognize and promote the importance of women, and particularly women of color, running for, and serving in, public office and promote the engagement of young women in our political process in order to develop a pipeline for new leadership.
10. We support the programs of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), including educational and preventive initiatives, especially those that serve women at risk of sexual and domestic violence, and recognize that freedom and protection from violence or abuse, domestic and otherwise, is a fundamental human right.
11. We believe all consenting adults should have the equal and unequivocal access to medical, legal and economic rights such as civil marriage, adoption, civil unions, hospital visitation, and financial rights including inheritance and retirement benefits.
12. We believe Oregon’s LGBTQ+ community deserves to live free of bullying, violence, and threat of violence.
13. We believe schools, healthcare facilities, and other public accommodations and services must be open and welcoming to all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
14. We believe in the right to religious freedom, including the right not to hold religious beliefs or observe religious
customs. We believe in the separation of church and state and we believe the right to religious freedom does not include the right to discriminate.
15. We strongly oppose legislative efforts to abridge First Amendment rights by legalizing discrimination, persecution or prosecution as “religious freedom.”
16. We strongly support a national commission to explore the concepts, legal and implementation ramifications, and reparations for past injustices including sterilization, infection, mutilation, and killing, perpetrated against Native Americans, Black Americans, people with disabilities, and other minority groups by federal and state governments.
17. Oregon Democrats fully support tribal sovereignty and tribal jurisdiction by honoring treaties and federal statutes that are the foundation of a trust relationship between tribes and government.
18. We believe in input or involvement from Native Americans, small farmers, cattle ranchers and other stakeholders, particularly those who have been left out historically, when land use decisions are to be made. Treaty rights must also always be considered.
19. We believe evidence shows vulnerable, front-line communities (minority, impoverished, and rural) are subject to the worst effects of nearby fossil fuel and nuclear power plants and these impacts must be mitigated as quickly as possible with additional funding as needed.
20. We believe people with disabilities have the right “to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and must be provided equal opportunity to participate in our society to the fullest extent possible. We believe all levels of government should make all activities compliant with the most stringent accessibility standards.
21. We believe public institutions should accommodate all people with physical access needs by complying with the most stringent standard contained within the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barriers Act (ADA/ABA) Standards, the 2018 International Building Code, or the 2018 Oregon Structural Specialty Code.
2. We support the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all the rights contained therein.
3. We support the right of everyone to the basic necessities of life including: Universal Basic Income, safety, clean air, clean water, food, shelter, health care, education, and the opportunity to thrive.
4. We are committed to protecting and ensuring our constitutional rights and freedoms including the right to assemble peacefully without penalty or threat of violence from militarized police forces. We insist fair and due process and equal treatment are provided to all under the law.
5. We disavow any attempt to restrict, discourage, or penalize individuals acting in a private capacity from expressing their views through peaceful non-violent action, criticism of government policies in the United States or those of foreign nations, and organized boycotts in order to effect political change.
6. We believe Oregon is home to women who blaze new trails in business, entrepreneurship, culture, and politics. We proudly and vigorously support a woman’s right to choose how to use her mind, body, and time. We respect women as full partners in family, in all political processes, and society overall.
7. We support equal access for women of all ages to training, jobs, and promotions, and equal pay for equal work, and the right to sue for equal pay, capital, equity, and contracts.
8. We support affirmative action, the rights accorded to women in Title IX of the United States Education Amendments of 1972, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the United States Constitution.
9. We recognize and promote the importance of women, and particularly women of color, running for, and serving in, public office and promote the engagement of young women in our political process in order to develop a pipeline for new leadership.
10. We support the programs of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), including educational and preventive initiatives, especially those that serve women at risk of sexual and domestic violence, and recognize that freedom and protection from violence or abuse, domestic and otherwise, is a fundamental human right.
11. We believe all consenting adults should have the equal and unequivocal access to medical, legal and economic rights such as civil marriage, adoption, civil unions, hospital visitation, and financial rights including inheritance and retirement benefits.
12. We believe Oregon’s LGBTQ+ community deserves to live free of bullying, violence, and threat of violence.
13. We believe schools, healthcare facilities, and other public accommodations and services must be open and welcoming to all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
14. We believe in the right to religious freedom, including the right not to hold religious beliefs or observe religious
customs. We believe in the separation of church and state and we believe the right to religious freedom does not include the right to discriminate.
15. We strongly oppose legislative efforts to abridge First Amendment rights by legalizing discrimination, persecution or prosecution as “religious freedom.”
16. We strongly support a national commission to explore the concepts, legal and implementation ramifications, and reparations for past injustices including sterilization, infection, mutilation, and killing, perpetrated against Native Americans, Black Americans, people with disabilities, and other minority groups by federal and state governments.
17. Oregon Democrats fully support tribal sovereignty and tribal jurisdiction by honoring treaties and federal statutes that are the foundation of a trust relationship between tribes and government.
18. We believe in input or involvement from Native Americans, small farmers, cattle ranchers and other stakeholders, particularly those who have been left out historically, when land use decisions are to be made. Treaty rights must also always be considered.
19. We believe evidence shows vulnerable, front-line communities (minority, impoverished, and rural) are subject to the worst effects of nearby fossil fuel and nuclear power plants and these impacts must be mitigated as quickly as possible with additional funding as needed.
20. We believe people with disabilities have the right “to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and must be provided equal opportunity to participate in our society to the fullest extent possible. We believe all levels of government should make all activities compliant with the most stringent accessibility standards.
21. We believe public institutions should accommodate all people with physical access needs by complying with the most stringent standard contained within the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barriers Act (ADA/ABA) Standards, the 2018 International Building Code, or the 2018 Oregon Structural Specialty Code.
