slides: 13 Times Portland Won at Boycotting
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Saturday, February 28, 2015
Annie Ellison, GoLocalPDX Reporter
According to data compiled by the
Current Population Survey, Portland is the American city with the greatest participation in boycotts.
The data, which comes from a combined effort between the U.S. Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicates that roughly 29 percent of people in Portland participated in a boycott or "buycott" in 2013. The ranking drew attention on Reddit, Facebook and Twitter, some even calling for a "boycott of the boycott ranking."
See Slides Below: 13 Times Portland Won at Boycotting
Over the years, Portland has led the way in several boycotts, including a 2013 move by high school students to boycott the state's standardized test, the Oregon Assessment of Knowlege and Skills (OAKS) test. In 2015, a determined group of parents is steadily opting their children out of a controversial round of tests set to begin in March.
Some boycotts have been unique to Portland, including Citybikes, whose owner was accused of holding anti-semetic beliefs by an anti-fascist group in 2012, and a boycott of the Portland Trail Blazers by a Christian group following the team's move to come out in support of marriage equality. A Vegan Cafe was boycotted after asking an armed police officer to leave for violating the restaurant's "safe space" policy, and a group of more than 1,000 people are boycotting the state's biggest news paper.
Other times, Portlanders jumped on with enthusiasm to national and international boycotts, including one against Italian pasta-maker Barilla for comments a company executive made about LGBT families, and the manufacturer of Israeli soda-maker Sodastream, which makes its product in an Israeli settlement in Palestine. In the case of Sodastream, the group Friends of Sabeel organized events and leafletting in downtown Portland.
A group on Facebook even calls for the boycott of Portland's largest LGBT nightclub, C.C. Slaughter's, for its strict attire and drinks policies.
Portland placed ahead of Seattle, San Jose, and Salt Lake City, which all had rates of more than 25 percent participation.
Related Slideshow: 13 Times Portland Boycotted Harder Than Any Other City
According to data compiled by the Current Population Survey, Portland is the American city with the greatest participation in boycotts.
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Standardized Testing
Portland High School Students refused to take the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS) test in 2013. A growing movement among Portland parents to boycott the Smarter Balanced Test Consortium by “opting out” their children from taking the tests is ramping up as the test date nears.
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Portland’s Premier Gay Bar
Numerous incidents have gained C.C. Slaughter’s, Portland’s biggest LGBT night club, a reputation for being overly strict, including newly-weds being barred from entering due to their attire, and the club’s ultra-stern drinks policy. After a newly-wed couple was banned from entry, a boycott was born.
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Uber
Amid much anticipation, protest, and by-laws prohibiting the controversial ride-sharing company, Uber rolled into Portland in Dec. 2014. While a city task force works to amend the rules that would allow Uber and companies like it to operate, taxi companies have taken action, and numerous individuals announced their boycotts through social media.
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The Arts Tax
The $35 annual Arts Education Income Tax, to be paid by all Portlanders to fund arts in schools, was one of the most successful boycotts in the city. In addition to social media initiatives to boycott the tax, less than half of Portlanders had paid their arts tax in the first two years.
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The Portland Aquarium
A social media movement to boycott the Portland Aquarium grew among Portlanders who say they are concerned over the treatment of marine wildlife in a captive environment.
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Barilla Pasta
After an executive at Italyian pasta maker Barilla Pasta said he would never feature an advertisement with LGBT families, consumers worldwide boycotted the company’s products. Portlanders took to the boycott like a Portlander takes to a boycott.
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The Oregonian
A group of Oregon readers, concerned over changes at the state’s biggest paper, launched a Facebook page to boycott the Oregonian on the grounds that it “has gone off the rails after getting a neo-con publisher then a neo-con editorial page editor. Since then, its coverage has been carrying water for corporations while attacking workers, public education, and basic public services.”
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The Trail Blazers
A Christian group launched a boycott of the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team in 2014 after the Blazers announced their support for the Freedom to Marry and Religious Protection ballot initiative.
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SodaStream
The Israeli company behind the at-home soda-maker SodaStream faced boycotts around the world for manufacturing its product in an Israeli settlement in contested Palestinian territory. In Portland, the group Friends of Sabeel North America organized events in the downtown core, handing out leaflets and wearing placards.
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City Bikes
Portland Anti Fascist group Rose City Antifa boycotted Portland cyclery Citybikes in 2012, alleging the company’s owner, Tim Calvert, held anti-semitic views and organized for racist causes. Two Citybikes employees left the shop amid the pressure, according to Bike Portland.
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Mass
In 2010, a group of Catholic women from Northeast Portland’s St. Andrew Parish boycotted mass, in response to an 81-year-old Irish woman’s call to protest the treatment of women in the church. The group held prayers and gospel in downtown Portland’s Parks Blocks.
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A Vegan ‘Safe Space’ Cafe
In 2010, an armed police officer was asked to leave SE Portland’s Red and Black Cafe for violating its safe space policy, prompting a boycott from some members of the community. In true Portland fashion, some protested the boycott.
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