Keeping Our Community Whole, part 3: What really protects our communities

Real security is not about who can dodge the risk of being picked up by masked agents on the street. It is about building a place where no one has to live in fear. When federal agents target immigrant neighbors, when profiling shapes who gets questioned, when families get torn apart without due process, that is not security. It is insecurity. It corrodes trust, divides communities, and normalizes state power that can be turned on any of us.

We know where that road leads. Germany in the 1930s did not fall into horror overnight. Fear, scapegoating, and selective enforcement paved the way. Colleagues I work with around the world say the same thing today. We have seen this before, and we know the signs. From Hungary to Egypt to Russia, the pattern is clear. When any government normalizes targeting certain groups, everyone’s rights become negotiable.

Martin Niemöller, a German pastor who lived through Nazi Germany, said it plainly:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.

If the only reason you feel safe is the color of your skin or where you were born, that is not safety, it is privilege, and it is fragile. Authoritarian systems thrive on fear, instilling hate and division. When we accept that some people can be treated as disposable, we open the door for everyone’s rights to erode. The only sustainable model is common security. None of us is safe until all of us are safe.

In my line of work, peacebuilding and conflict resolution, we have a practical toolbox that makes communities and societies safer and stronger. Some of the many measures that are already adopted but perhaps underrecognized for their importance are:

• Mental health crisis response teams. Trained professionals who de-escalate without force.

• Youth engagement programs. Give young people a sense of purpose and connection before problems escalate.

• Violence interruption. Community-based outreach that reduces retaliation and cycles of harm.

• Restorative practices in schools. Address harm without exclusion so kids stay connected to learning.

• Community police partnerships with accountability. Build trust through transparency and shared responsibility.

These approaches are not one-size-fits-all. Communities tailor them. In the Gorge, Next Door Inc. supports families, youth, health, and economic stability. Families created “bike trains” so kids could ride to school safely. The Hood River Latino Action Network defends immigrant rights, partners with food banks and health providers, and supports youth. All of this is locally-led safety work. It strengthens trust and makes us more secure.

Hood River County is home to immigrant families who contribute to our schools, farms, and businesses. We often hear how essential those contributions are, and of course, they matter. But at a much deeper level, our support shouldn’t depend on what someone does for the economy or the community. It’s about recognizing their humanity — no ifs, no buts, no whens. When any of our neighbors live in fear of being taken away, our entire community suffers. We owe it to each other to see and value people for who they are, not just for what they do.

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Patrick T. Hiller, Ph.D., calls Hood River home. He’s a husband, father, endurance athlete, neighbor, and longtime peace educator who believes in the power of community to bridge divides. As Executive Director of the War Prevention Initiative of the Jubitz Family Foundation, Hiller’s work focuses on advocating for nonviolent approaches to all forms of conflict.