Statement from Mayor Rick Scholl on St. Helens Protests

Our City does not condone racism. The City Council and all our departments support the right of each of our community members to protest peacefully as a meaningful way to call for change and shed light on injustice. It is a way for your voice to be heard. It is a way to express your pain, spark change, and move us forward.  

We are aware of potential protests that may occur in our city over this week and that emotions are running very high right now. We are currently working with partner agencies to make sure that we are as prepared as possible to ensure the safety of our community members, our businesses, and of those who wish to peacefully protest.

When we look around the nation right now, we see many peaceful protests turning violent as agitators begin vandalizing businesses and destroying property. We do not want this for our community. I have received many calls from business owners and citizens expressing their deep concern about rioting and violence.

St. Helens is in the very beginning stages of attempting to recover from a pandemic that has been economically devastating for many of our community members and businesses. We are still operating under state orders requiring social distancing. Vandalism and looting hurts all of us. If you chose to protest, we ask you to do so peacefully. Destruction of our city is destruction of our community.

As we prepare for the coming days, the safety of all our community members is, and always will be, our number one priority.

     - St. Helens Mayor Rick Scholl