PORTLAND, Ore. — The U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon says that federal investigators are looking into a spate of letters sent to Portland-area community leaders and activists.
"We are aware that some Portland area community leaders and activists have, in recent months, received racist letters threatening violence against them, their families, or people they know," said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney. "I want to reassure the community that the U.S. Attorney’s Office takes these threats very seriously and, together with our partners at the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, are engaged in an active investigation to determine who is responsible for creating and sending these letters and to evaluate criminal wrongdoing."
The federal prosecutor urged people to help by sending tips about these letters or other threats of violence to the FBI. Tips can be submitted directly to the FBI’s Portland Field Office by calling (503) 224-4181 or by visiting tips.fbi.gov.
"We need the public’s help to keep our communities safe and protect all Oregonians," Williams said. "While our investigation is ongoing, we must respectfully decline further comment.”
Some of these written threats have been ongoing since at least the summer of 2020, Portland-area station KOIN reported in December. The letters cited in that report, sent to Black business owners and community leaders, were riddled with racial slurs and death threats.
