Cascadia today: Video shows ICE violent arrest in OR + Greater Idaho setback + artist reclaims her "Tigress" nickname

Good morning. If you're new to Cascadia Journal, welcome! And if you're a regular reader, thank you! I make all the content in this newsletter available without a paywall, including my weekly article/essay. If you like what you see here, please consider a paid subscription for $5 or $10 per month. Your support allows me to continue reporting on news across the Cascadia bioregion, and our efforts to increase resiliency and autonomy in Oregon and Washington. And to my paid subscribers, I appreciate you. Thanks. --Andy

Cascadia Democratic Action will be announcing big news next week, stay tuned. I'll be taking a break over the long weekend this Friday through Monday for a backpacking trip on the Olympic peninsula and see you when I return!

Video shows ICE officer brutally arresting OR immigrants

The Guardian has exclusive video of ICE officers violently arresting immigrants in Woodburn, Oregon last October without a warrant and using face-recognition technology. The video shows ICE goons smashing windows and trying to defy the immigrants' requests for their constitutional right to remain silent. The video documents the arrest of "MJMA," who part of class action suit against the feds filed by Innovation Law Lab of Portland. A judge in February ordered ICE and DHS to stop making arrests without a warrant. The case is still pending.

Greater Idaho measure repealed in Wallowa county

A measure passed in Wallowa county in 2023 urging the the county to move from Oregon jurisdiction to Idaho was repealed this week in a public ballot measure by more than 60 % in favor. It was a blow to the right-wing "Greater Idaho" effort in Eastern Oregon in which eastern counties seek to leave the state and join conservative-leaning Idaho. Since 2020, thirteen eastern counties have made known their desire to leave, but efforts to make that a reality at the state and national level have stalled.

My position on Greater Idaho (and for that matter, the right wing Alberta separatist movement) is: fine, hope that works out for you. Though I do believe that eventually Cascadia should one day encompass the full bioregion. But I understand that this isn't politically viable at the moment, and perhaps never will be.

GOP proposes deeper cuts to Hanford cleanup

Washington State Standard reports that Republicans in Congress are proposing even deeper cuts to the feds' cleanup of the contaminated Hanford nuclear site, slashing an additional $55 million from Trump's proposed cuts. That would leave funding at around $2.7 billion for the multi-decade cleanup what is likely North America's worst radioactive site. The Hanford facility was used to manufacture plutonium for the US's first atomic weapons, and an agreement was supposed to "glassify" the highly toxic waste by 2052 but the feds are pushing that to 2069.

Mark Carney throws BC under a bus with pipeline deal

The Tyee has a sharp piece analyzing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent deal with Alberta to build yet another climate-destroying oil pipeline to coastal British Columbia. Carney is trying to stop the breakup of Canada, as Alberta's MAGA separatist movement looks to make the province the second Texas of the US. An appeals court invalidated an Alberta separation ballot measure last week for failing to consult First Nations. The author of the opinion piece writes:

It seems to me that coastal British Columbians are as unhappy with this state of affairs as are Alberta separatists. --David Klimenhaga

Seattle artist reclaims "Tigress" mantle

The South Seattle Emerald profiles Karen Chang, a Seattle artist who has reclaimed her nickname, "Tigress," which was once used by her Chinese-Cascadian family as criticism. Chang now proudly embraces it and paints surreal self portraits as a powerful, almost goddess-like figure. The show runs at Gallery B612 in Seattle through May 27.

Thanks for reading, and as always, keep loving and keep fighting. --Andy