Portland Residents Erase Hate

The names added were as diverse as Portland’s population. Students honored friends who interrupt slurs at schools and adults honored their children, colleagues and neighbors. Some cards celebrated distinguished leaders like Jimmy Carter while teenagers scrawled the names of artists like Lady Gaga and Ellen DeGeneres. One card simply said “Grammy.”

In the end, the word hate was almost entirely erased with the names of people who prevent hate through their everyday actions. Only the top and bottom of the letters remained, which was intentional. The wall was a organic recreation of the Center’s new logo. Thank you to everyone who participated in the event and to all the honorees for their acts of courage.