Labor Council supports city's refusal to assist feds with immigrant interviews

Delegates to the Northwest Oregon Labor Council (NOLC) applauded Portland Mayor Vera Katz and Police Chief Mark Kroeker for their refusal to assist federal agents in conducting interviews of Middle Eastern immi- grants - part of a federal investigation into the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.

The Police Bureau, on advice from City Attorney Jeff Rogers, said the order from U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to interview all Middle Eastern immigrants would be a violation of their civil rights under city statutes. The law says police cannot collect and/or maintain information on people who have not been accused of crimes.

Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers disagreed with Rogers, saying that the interviews are legal because they are voluntary and because they are part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Oregon Department of Justice investigators began working with federal officials this week.

In any event, a motion was passed unanimously at NOLC's regular night meeting Nov. 26 directing Executive Secretary-Treasurer Judy O'Connor to send a letter of appreciation and support to Kroeker and Katz.

Council delegates also passed a resolution submitted by the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 82 opposing any and all "harassing acts and words which target people who are or appear to be Arab-American, Islamic-American or other groups of Americans, because such harassment is harmful and unjust."

Since Sept. 11, numerous threats have been made against individuals and institutions based on ethnic or religious profiles.