HILLSBORO, Ore.- The following is a statement from Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton:

Like many of you I am deeply disturbed and saddened by examples of racism and bias that are occurring in our nation.  In just the past few weeks we have heard about a man shot and killed while jogging in Georgia, a man threatened in New York’s Central Park while bird watching, and a man who died after being held with a knee to his neck in Minnesota.  While these tragic examples may be on the national news, we must remember that it is our local obligation to be vigilant against all forms of hate or bias.

As District Attorney for Washington County, Oregon’s fastest growing and most diverse county, I am proud to work with our partners in law enforcement to protect and serve all members of our community.  An important example of the outreach we do is our annual “Building Bridges of Understanding” event involving public safety agencies and our diverse community members and organizations.  I encourage anyone who would like to join the fight against hate and bias to consider attending this year’s event in October.  An essential aspect of being safe is feeling safe and our mission in the DA’s Office is to ensure everyone in our community, regardless of skin color or ethnicity, feels safe in Washington County.

This website has additional details on the Building Bridges of Understanding program. You can also view this video of last year’s event.