Richmond Neighborhood CNBSeen Event

Press Release for 5/21/22

Richmond Neighborhood Association (RNA) plans public safety event with local nonprofit

OREGON CITY, OR, UNITED STATES, May 6, 2022 — When Philando Castile’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police in 2016 was live streamed by his girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, writer Don Merrill was across the country working on other projects. “But I had no idea his death would have such an effect on me,” said Merrill. So much so, he traveled to Minneapolis to see the site, then covered with pictures, balloons and flowers. He also met another black man who was trying to prevent future deaths resulting from traffic stops gone bad, from happening again. Through his own car repair service, he was offering to replace bulbs in cars for free.

Merrill liked the idea and in 2016, with the help of two friends, started CNBSeen, a nonprofit devoted to replacing inoperative lights on vehicles. The issue of police stops has been at the center of many questionable police shootings in recent years. So much so that in the 2022 Oregon legislative session, and after failed previous attempts, lawmakers successfully introduced legislation that prohibits police from stopping a vehicle for minor infractions like burnt out lights. Between 2017 and 2020, Merrill was working on publishing a book. But in 2020, he reanimated the idea of CNBSeen, esp. in light of the killing of George Floyd.

The Portland Police Bureau’s quarterly “Stops Data Report” shows historical and disproportionate stops of black and Hispanic drivers – https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/news/read.cfm?id=271347. Subsequently, many neighborhoods became interested in hosting CNBSeen events after being contacted by Don Merrill. Unfortunately, COVID caused many initially interested to drop out of hosting events because of the double whammy of disease and waves of civil unrest that left police struggling to serve them. As health officials declare that the United States is no longer in “a pandemic phase”, masks slowly come off, and communities in and around Portland slowly recover, neighborhoods are looking for events to bring people back outside to reengage.

One of those neighborhoods, the Richmond Neighborhood Association, has planned an event with CNBSeen to take place in conjunction with its Spring Clean Up event on Saturday, May 21 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The event, situated at Central Christian Church, located at 1844 SE Cesar Chavez Blvd, will host CNBSeen in the church parking lot until 12:30 p.m.. Vehicles needing minor bulb replacement are invited to enter the North parking lot from SE 40th. Once there, a greeter will ask a few questions while a technician from All Around Automotive replaces burnt out bulbs provided by Automotive Products. A list of lights not replaced by CNBSeen, as well a service disclaimer can be found here – https://wordpress.com/post/dmassociates.wordpress.com/8825. For more information about this event, please contact the Richmond Neighborhood Association at richmondnasecretary@gmail.com. Don Merrill thanks RNA, volunteer technician and auto restorer Michael Rowe and Automotive Products for their support.

The Richmond Neighborhood Association exists with the goal to provide a forum to develop neighborhood cohesiveness and improve livability by coordinating neighborhood projects, disseminating information and promoting active involvement in neighborhood activities – https://www.richmondpdx.org

CNBSeen is a nonprofit with the missions of social justice and public safety – http://www.cnb-seen.org

Automotive Products, 1700 SE Grand St., Portland OR 503-234-5241, http://www.automotiveproductsinc.com