Leaders of Oregon’s Timber Unity are associating with fringe groups, attacks on capitols

To the editor:

On Dec. 21, I watched several lengthy live stream videos shot by Angelita Sanchez, a founder of Timber Unity in Oregon and administrator of that group’s Facebook page. The video showed rioters masquerading as patriots attacking the Oregon Capitol, illegally breaking and entering the building and assaulting the police. Sanchez clearly supported the activities of these domestic terrorists as she continued to live stream and offer commentary. This video has since been removed from Timber Unity’s private Facebook page.

On Jan. 6, Sanchez was in Washington, D.C. with dozens of other Timber Unity members. The last video she posted showed her among the crowd marching to the Capitol building.

Many good, well-meaning people in Toledo and Lincoln County support Timber Unity because they believe the group stands up for working families. Other than the arguable belief that supporting Republican candidates is good for working families, I’ve seen too little evidence this is true. I have seen members of the group do good works, such as the efforts to help the victims of our catastrophic wildfires. But the Timber Unity leadership, and the beliefs of some of the groups associated with it, reflect very different goals.

Unfortunately, Timber Unity seems to be a magnet for fringe groups like the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, Patriot Prayer, the 3 Percenters and other so-called “patriot movement” groups, and the white nationalist group the Alt-Right. Also represented is QAnon, a group that believes the world is ruled by a cabal of child-molesting Satanists and only Donald Trump is trying to stop them. All this is well documented, not idle accusations.

I understand the impulse of rural Oregonians to feel under represented in the Legislature. Some of that feeling is warranted. However, the solution in a democratic society is to work to change government, either by lobbying or by election of representatives that we feel best represent our interests. Not by denying a quorum or attacking the people’s houses where our elected representatives are doing the people’s work.

I fear that Timber Unity has been compromised beyond hope of repair, and urge those in my hometown who support them to take a hard look at this group, their goals and methods, and perhaps decide to direct their support to other, more worthwhile causes.

   — Bill Dalbey, Toledo

Pictured below is TU Vice President Todd Stoffel, with Angela Roman, who is associated with the paramilitary group the Three Percenters, and Proud Boy Matteo Dagradi.