April 25, 2022

Escalante Golf

On July 1, 2022, the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course, located in North Plains, Oregon is scheduled to
host the LIV Golf Invitational series. The LIV Golf is financially backed by the controversial Public
Investment Fund-the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia. The Public Investment Fund is,
essentially, the financial arm of the Saudi government.

We are writing to express our strong opposition to this golf tournament, because as elected
leaders, our number one priority is ensuring the safety of our communities. We believe that we
have a moral obligation to take a stand and speak out against this event in order to protect the
people we serve. While our local jurisdictions may not be able to prevent this event, we stand
together to voice our concerns about the unwelcomed potential risks, visitors and harm this
event could have on our communities.

The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) has discussed terminating current membership
status and possibly banning future membership to players and tour members who participate in
this new golf league. It might be of interest to the members of Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club that
the golf pros who provide lessons and direct daily operations at the courses are most likely
members of the PGA and could face sanctions for the actions taken by the Club. Hosting this
event could also call into question Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club’s integrity as a site for other PGA
and PGA-related events.

This pales in comparison to the fact that the government of Saudi Arabia has sponsored other,
much more horrific events. This is the same government that in 2018 organized the murder and
dismemberment of a member of the American Press, Jamal Khashoggi and which last month
carried out the public execution of 81 people for crimes of terrorism and “holding deviant
beliefs”. It should be noted that the Saudi definition of terrorism includes “non-violent acts
which ‘endanger national unity’ or ‘undermine the State’s reputation’” and that some of those
executed were minors when they were arrested and charged with these so-called crimes.

Oregon senior Senator Ron Wyden, his Senatorial colleague, Jeff Merkley, have weighed in and
believe the Saudi government actively participates in helping Saudi nationals charged with
crimes in the United States evade justice by returning to Saudi Arabia. Many of these
individuals, including Abdulrahman Sameer Noorah, who was charged in the hit and run death
of a 15-year-old Oregonian, Fallon Smart, later resurfaced in their homeland. Senator Wyden
and Senator Merkley tried to convince the Saudi government to return these criminals to the
United States. Their pleas have gone unanswered.
Finally, there are mounting concerns about potential protests in North Plains and neighboring
jurisdictions during the LIV Golf Invitational series. Not only does the presence of this event
threaten the safety of our community, it also puts additional pressure on the Washington
County Sheriff's Office, its law enforcement partners in western Washington County, and
beyond. If there is no golf tournament, if Saudi Arabia’s presence is effaced from northwest
Oregon, then our local law enforcement agencies will be freed from the obligation of providing
protection for those who feel the deep need to attend a golf tournament backed by one of the
most repressive governments on earth.

It begs common sense, it begs human understanding, and it begs justice to try to balance these
acts with the possibility of some ‘economic development’ created by providing space for a golf
tournament. We oppose this event because it is being sponsored by a repressive government
whose human rights abuses are documented. We refuse to support these abuses by complicitly
allowing the Saudi-backed organization to play in our backyard.

Human rights outbid all the rest.

In unified opposition,

Stephanie Jones, Mayor of Banks

Lacey Beaty, Mayor of Beaverton
Gery Schirado, Mayor of Durham
Peter Truax, Mayor of Forest Grove
Steve Callaway, Mayor of Hillsboro
Jamie Fender, Mayor of King City
Teri Lenahan, Mayor of North Plains
Keith Mays, Mayor of Sherwood
Jason Snider, Mayor of Tigard
Frank Bubenik, Mayor of Tualatin
Julie Fitzgerald, Mayor of Wilsonville