Hilton silent on future of Eugene Graduate after statements about ICE

Presenter: Hilton is silent on whether it will sever ties with the Eugene Graduate, after local Democrats taunted the Trump administration by stating that the hotel’s local owners “are not providing housing for ICE agents.”

In January, Hilton pulled the franchise rights for a Minnesota Hampton Inn after a video showed the desk clerk refusing to book rooms to federal agents. Hilton said the franchisee was “not meeting our standards and values.” 

Here’s KEPW’s Robin Bloomgarden with the statement.

Robin Bloomgarden: A statement from the Democratic Party of Lane County.

Saturday night’s DeFazio Dinner is the largest fundraiser for the Democratic Party of Lane County, and will be the main source of funds in an election year that is foundational to the future of our democracy.

The DeFazio Dinner funds the organizing and voter outreach that allowed us to win elections and protect our neighbors. Winning elections is how we fight against hate, fight against fascism, fight against racism, and fight against all policy policies that harm our communities.

To be clear, the location of this year’s dinner, Graduate Eugene, a local franchise privately owned, has confirmed that they have not and are not providing housing for ICE agents. 

We understand why many of our neighbors care deeply about these issues. So do we. But stepping back from this work at this moment in history is not an option. Building the resources to organize, turn out voters, win elections and fight back against Donald Trump and his fascist administration is how we meet this moment. And that’s exactly what this event is about.

Presenter: That’s KEPW’s Robin Bloomgarden with the statement from local Democrats that a local Hilton franchise is not providing housing for ICE agents. Hilton has not yet responded to press queries.