Developers are planning to build a music venue in Portland's central eastside, not far from the Hawthorne Bridge, pictured here in February 2024.
Mia Estrada / OPB
The nonprofit advocacy group MusicPortland is publicly apologizing after one of its board members used the term “firebomb” at a recent event.
In the U.S., firebombs — a weapon meant to set fire to things such as houses or cars — have been used in efforts to destroy thriving Black communities and to target the homes of civil rights leaders. Throughout history, demonstrators around the world have also used firebombs against officials while protesting things like war and government oppression.
A video shows Jamie Dunphy, board member of MusicPortland and candidate for Portland city council, referencing the term at a Sept. 3 rally. The event was meant to organize opposition to the development of a planned music venue where global concert promoter Live Nation would operate.
Local firms, Colas Development Group and Beam Development are developing the venue project. A Black Portland family started and continues to run Colas Development Group with Andrew Colas serving as the firm’s president and CEO.
The two firms are developing a stretch of city property on the eastside waterfront near the Hawthorne Bridge. Because MusicPortland opposes the firm’s decision to bring Live Nation in as the site’s music venue operator, the nonprofit has filed an appeal with the city regarding the land use of the site. A hearing for that appeal is set for Sept. 19.
The recording of the MusicPortland event shows an audience member asking Dunphy about “direct action” if the appeal is denied.
“In the process of reaching out to the music community,” Dunphy is heard answering on the video, “more than one person suggested firebombs. I don’t encourage that, but we’re going to have a conversation after the 19th and see what our options are.”
In response to the comments, the top leaders at Colas and Beam sent a letter to the executive director, Meara McLaughlin, and the board of directors of MusicPortland.
Related: Letter from Colas Development Group and Beam Development
“I am writing to express serious concern over the dangerous rhetoric used by board member Jamie Dunphy and your supporters during the September 3 event organized by MusicPortland,” the letter begins. “During the meeting, there were mentions of using ‘firebombs’ in protest of our proposal to build a music venue in the Central Eastside, a project meant to bring Portlanders together through the love of music. This language is unacceptable, fanatical, and rooted in racism.”
The letter calls on the MusicPortland board of directors to publicly denounce the comments.
“MusicPortland and its Board in no way endorses or supports any kind of racist or violent rhetoric,” McLaughlin said in a statement. “What our board member, Jamie Dunphy said during our rally at Lollipop Shoppe on Tuesday, September 3 was culturally insensitive and unacceptable. We take full responsibility for it and apologize to the community for our choice of words.”