Organizers gathered at the Oregon State Capitol on Nov. 7 to demand clemency for Brian "Hakiym" Simpson, a Black wildland firefighter who has been incarcerated for over two years.
Organizers gathered at the Oregon State Capitol on Nov. 7 to demand clemency for Brian "Hakiym" Simpson, a Black wildland firefighter who has been incarcerated for over two years.
SALEM — On Nov. 7, over 50 people from Ashland, Portland, Eugene, and beyond gathered at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem. They held signs reading “Justice for Hakiym is Justice for All” and “Free Hakiym,” while wildland firefighters, friends of Hakiym’s, and community organizers took the mic, urging Gov. Tina Kotek to grant Hakiym clemency.
Brian “Hakiym” Simpson, a Black wildland firefighter, has been incarcerated for over two and a half years on an assault charge that organizers claim was a wrongful conviction and actually self defense.
“Despite the fact that his attacker, Brandon Olson, admitted to throwing the first punch and chasing Hakiym down when he attempted to leave, with eyewitness testimony confirming that Brandon used racial slurs against him, Hakiym was the one tried for assault,” said Madison Lusk, communications coordinator for Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology (FUSEE) and long-time community organizer.
Hakiym was attacked by a fellow wildland fire crewmate while at his company barracks in Southern Oregon. Testimonies from over ten wildland firefighters were shared during the rally, including a collaborative speech from organizers within a group dubbed “Firefighters for Hakiym.”
“When we heard about Hakiym’s case, we recognized how important it was to fight against the culture of racism both in fire suppression and in the state of Oregon,” said Vannessa Sasina, contract wildland firefighter, prescribed fire practitioner, and member of the group.
Hakiym has been fighting for his freedom since his incarceration, and just a couple of weeks ago, his clemency application reached Kotek’s desk. The governor is now within a 180-day window in which she can make the decision to grant Hakiym clemency.
“Governor Kotek ... This is your chance now to act on what you say you stand on. Show Oregon that we will not stand for injustice. Show Oregon that we are working to right our past. Show Oregon that the color of one’s skin will not determine their fate in this state,” said Ali Mramor, organizer with the Justice for Hakiym campaign.
“We are giving Governor Tina Kotek an opportunity to fulfill her words and promises with concrete action. An opportunity to show solidarity with truth and justice, on the right side of history, as we move forward in untangling the centuries of violence and white supremacy that the people of this country and the State of Oregon are still subjected to,” said Miriam Valentine, a prescribed fire practitioner and contract wildland firefighter.
On the Capitol steps, community members and wildland firefighters held signs with quotes from the governor. They read:
“Oregon cannot heal and truly prosper without ensuring Black Americans have a criminal justice system rooted in accountability and fairness.”
“Oregon’s firefighters run towards danger, and they deserve a governor who will always fight for their safety.”
“Hold me to the promises I make. Because our shared future depends on it.”
Organizers hope that, with the facts of the case and the outpouring of support from Oregon residents, Kotek will grant Hakiym a clemency pardon, reuniting him with his family and taking a step towards justice in an unjust case.
“The measure of justice is not simply whether a conviction was secured. It is whether the process was fair, the facts were fully considered, and every person received the same protection under the law. For Hakiym, the consequences are not theoretical. They are measured in days separated from family, opportunities lost, and a life placed on hold,” read a statement from BASE – Black Alliance & Social Empowerment – shared at the rally.
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