Lawsuit Advances for Displaced Black Families in Portland

A federal court ruling has allowed a lawsuit to proceed on behalf of hundreds of Black families in Portland, Oregon. These families, from the Central Albina neighborhood, claim they were unjustly displaced decades ago to make way for a hospital expansion that never materialized. Federal Judge Michael Simon ruled against the city and Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Health Center’s motion to dismiss the case. The lawsuit alleges collusion between the city and the hospital to condemn and destroy Black homes and businesses without compensation. In the 1970s, when this displacement occurred, about four-fifths of Portland’s Black population lived in the Albina area. The lawsuit represents a significant step for the descendants of these families in seeking justice for the loss and impact caused by the failed hospital project.