June 12, 2025

Dear ONA Members,

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents more than 24,000 dedicated frontline caregivers who work every day to advance a healthcare system rooted in equity, compassion, and patient-centered care.

This year has been marked by rising threats to our values: to Medicaid and Medicare, reproductive freedom, LGBTQIA+ rights, immigrant communities, and the very idea that healthcare is a human right. Like many of you, I feel anger, grief, and deep resolve.

And yet, I remain hopeful.

We have seen people across Oregon and the nation rise up in peaceful protest bringing energy, urgency, and solidarity to this moment. From safe staffing to civil rights, ONA members have joined these movements, showing up with clarity and purpose. That same spirit drives our campaigns for fair contracts and it’s driving  this weekend’s “No Kings” events across the state.

As we take to the streets, let’s remember: peaceful protest is not just a tradition, it is a powerful tool for change. We know the Trump administration is eager to discredit and suppress dissent. We will not give them an opening. Our strength lies in our unity, our discipline, and our refusal to be distracted from what really matters: justice, equity, and the dignity of all workers.

We are proud to be part of a movement rooted in care, not chaos. Let’s keep showing the world who we are, and what we are fighting for.

In solidarity,

Tamie Cline, RN