A letter distributed in Portland asks a senator to jump off a bridge “for Jesus”

Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley, who is running for the Oregon U.S. Senate seat against incumbent Republican Gordon Smith, leaves his campaign recreational vehicle during a rally stop in Eugene, Ore., Sept. 18, 2007. Merkley says he won't take campaign contributions for his race from lobbyists and others with an interest in legislation when he presides over the Oregon House during the February session, but said he would continue to raise funds from others during the session. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

Residents of one Portland neighborhood woke up Sunday morning to a letter on their doorsteps. The letter commanded Senator Jeff Merkley to jump off a bridge.

Videos by Rare

The note, which began “dear lord” and was signed “Hector,” was phrased as a prayer. It asked God to “help Jeff Merkley walk over the Fremont Bridge and jump in the Willamette River on Christmas Eve.”

The letter also called for a “grand feast” and read, “let toasts be made and laughter and hugs; and then please accept our humble prayer of thanks.” It ended, “we pray this in the name of Christ our Savior.”

RELATED: A St. Louis police officer was sitting in traffic when suddenly the unthinkable happened and landed him in critical condition

Merkley is serving his third term as a Democratic Senator and has been a loud voice against Donald Trump, arguing against several of the president-elect’s cabinet appointments. Specifically, he has led the charge against Steve Bannon, the controversial former executive of Breitbart News, who was named Trump’s chief strategist. The Senator released a statement saying that with Bannon’s appointment, Trump “invited a white nationalist into the highest reaches of the government.”

RELATED: Columbia University puts headlock on wrestlers for sending sexist, hateful texts

KOIN News in Portland spoke with residents who received the letter, and many were distressed. One resident stated, “It almost makes me cry…those are words from the Bible and they are using it in context of the demise of someone.”

What do you think?

A St. Louis police officer was sitting in traffic when suddenly the unthinkable happened and landed him in critical condition

Two men who OD’d on heroin were found passed out in a parking lot, and it was all caught on video