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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) \u2014 In a largely symbolic action, the four self-described socialists on the Portland City Council held a press conference pledging to investigate local weapon shipments to Israel<\/a><\/strong> and urged other cities to join.<\/p>\n In a virtual press conference on Friday, Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane, Councilor Mitch Green, Councilor Sameer Kanal and Councilor Angelita Morillo pledged to \u201cinvestigate the manufacturing and transport of weapons to Israel within their city, and to investigate any other complicity the city may have with Israel\u2019s illegal occupation, apartheid, or genocidal violence against Palestinians.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Uncertainty\u2019: Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge pushed back due to federal funding <\/a><\/p>\n A leader of the Democratic Socialists of America<\/a><\/strong> (DSA) organized this press conference, and these Portland City Councilors are members of that group. Two additional \u201cprogressive allies\u201d also support this pledge, Councilor Candace Avalos and Councilor Jamie Dunphy, according to a DSA post on Instagram.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n At this point: It\u2019s unclear what the city councilors\u2019 probe into Israel-linked investments would look like in practice.<\/p>\n KOIN 6 News asked the four councilors why they\u2019re addressing international issues when there are legitimate local issues to deal with, namely addiction, homelessness, untreated mental illness, failing infrastructure and a growing budget deficit.<\/p>\n