Condemning Racism

In the coming weeks and months, Greater Portland METRO will be engaging with our staff, community partners, and passengers to help us develop the best approaching to make these words  meaningful and to make real progress.


Webinar Series:
Greater Portland Council
of Governments (GPCOG) 

The role of local government in
advancing racial equity

As a result of the national and local protests sparked by the death of
George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, our region’s municipal leaders are reflecting on what they
can do to create a more just and equitable society for people of color. 

GPCOG will be hosting a summer
series of webinars for municipal
 leaders on racial equity with content provided by national-level presenters
and local experts. Topics will include policy areas in which cities and
towns play a significant leadership
 role, including land use, housing, transportation, education,
social services and policing.

7/8/2020:
Municipal Dialogue of Racial Equity





METRO Board of Directors Resolution Condemning Racism

RESOLUTION NO. 2020.01

RESOLUTION BY THE BOARD OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE GREATER PORTLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT (“GPTD”), CONDEMNING RACISM AND HONORING AHMAUD ARBERY, RAYSHARD BROOKS, GEORGE FLOYD AND BREONNA TAYLOR AND COMMITING GPTD TO CONFRONTING AND ROOTING OUT INSTITUTIONAL RACISM.  

WHEREAS, recent incidents of racial injustice have again shone a light on systemic racism and the current and historic disparate treatment of African Americans and Black people in our country; and

WHEREAS, we recognize that, as public servants, we have an even greater responsibility to stand against and confront racism, discrimination, bias, and hatred while helping promote our core American value that no one should be targeted because of their identity; and

WHEREAS, we recognize that, as a provider of public transportation, GPTD has an obligation to continually work toward greater social and economic equity in our region and state; and

WHEREAS, we support all employees, passengers, visitors, and residents of the region no matter their ethnicity, race, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, sex, physical or mental disability, or gender identity;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that GPTD’s staff and Board of Directors believe Black lives matter and wholeheartedly condemn the actions and injustices that have again wrought division and crisis in our community and across these United States; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that GPTD joins with our member municipalities to affirm and commit to protecting the rights of all people, including members of the Black Lives Matter Movement, and justice allies and activists in our community who speak up and protest and demand justice for all; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,  that GPTD recommits to working on ways in which we can engage our communities to address and uproot institutionalized racism and implicit bias and offer spaces for dialogue, trainings, and understanding; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED AND REAFFIRMED that GPTD’s staff and Board of Directors will maintain constant vigilance with regard to its policies and actions as it relates to planning and operating a public transit system in order to make sure the system and agency are productive forces in helping to cure systemic racism in our communities.

Link to full text of signed resolution.