“LET PEOPLE LIVE THEIR LIFE”
One of those fighting to keep Oregon together is Democrat Brian Samp.
The electrician is running for a seat in Oregon’s House of Representatives – the lower chamber of Congress that is charged with passing federal legislation.
“If everybody is willing to sit down and have a discussion, instead of pointing fingers, we might get something done,” Samp told CNA.
Communities closer to the Idaho border, such as the small town of Hines, feel the most closely aligned with their neighbour.
Hines resident Toni Foster said she believes Oregon’s divisions are beyond repair.
“Stop the push, let people live their life. They’ve been doing it for years – let them do it,” she said. “We need to keep our values – it’s family, friends, God and country. You have to have it all.”
Even at a peaceful Sunday market in Portland, the state’s largest city known for its vast green spaces and eclectic cultures, simmering tensions are evident.
Market seller Sue Kenney pointed out: “I definitely feel that division, and when you drive around different communities you get a strong sense of it.”
McCaw previously said he feels the same sentiments and that policies have been forced on unwilling residents who disagree with some state laws.
“The Greater Idaho movement didn’t come along and cause division. The division has always been here,” he said.
