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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 16, 2016)
November 16, 2016 The Skanner Page 3 News and other communities of color throughout the state. “It wasn’t going to stop if Hillary was elect- ed and it won’t stop now.” Guerra-Vera said the organization intends to continue to focus on extant campaigns – po- lice accountability, data collection and calling on local government to di- vest in banks that invest in the prison-industrial complex — while also being a resource to mem- bers who are concerned about the election results and an apparent rise in reports of racist, misog- ynistic and Islamophobic “ cont’d from pg 1 continue to do every- thing it can to serve its communities. “For 40 years, IRCO has been building new begin- nings for immigrant and refugee families. As we move forward after the election, IRCO’s vision remains the same. We will continue welcoming newcomers and help- ing them achieve safe- ty, equality, justice and self-sufficiency. Our mis- sion is now more import- ant than ever,” Cha wrote. “We hope that our President-elect will con- tinue to uphold the core values we share, like We hope that our Presi- dent-elect will continue to uphold the core values we share, like equal protection and respect for every mem- ber of society” hate crimes across the country. “We really have been hearing a lot of our mem- bers being harassed for being Muslim, as well as people from the Latino community,” Guerra-Ve- ra said. On Nov. 22, Unite Or- egon will host an event called The Movement Continues at its North Portland location (700 N. Killingsworth) to allow members to talk about what they have been go- ing through in the last few weeks. The organiza- tion, along with coalition partners, will also host a candlelight vigil Dec. 11 to “stand in solidarity and show Portland and Oregon the true Oregon that we want to be a part of which is a true united community that we want to be a part of,” Guer- ra-Vera said. “I think in this moment in time, the conversa- tions have been hap- pening, the movement building since we started Unite Oregon, is real- ly something the world needs,” Guerra-Vera told The Skanner. Executive director Lee Po Cha of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, said in an emailed statement that the organization will Crowell equal protection and re- spect for every member of society. IRCO is work- ing with other local and national partners who are strong advocates of refugees and immigrants on the potential short and long-term impacts of the election results. We are taking steps to ensure that essential supports and services to immigrants and refugees are maintained, both na- tionally and in the state of Oregon.” Joann Hardesty, a veter- an activist and organizer who currently serves as president of the NAACP’s Portland branch, said local election results — particularly the election of local bookstore owner Chloe Eudaly to the Port- land City Commission — made her feel much more optimistic than the national results. She said many of her friends are scared — but she also sees many peo- ple looking for ways to help or resist. “I believe there’s many more people who believe that love trumps hate and are willing to get en- gaged in one of the many efforts that are taking place,” Hardesty said. “And if they don’t see something they like, they can start their own.” PPS Students March On Nov. 14, hundreds of Portland Public Schools students — including this group leaving Jefferson High School in North Portland — walked out of class to protest Donald Trump’s presidency. The Portland Police Bureau blocked off streets and walked along students, and there were no arrests or injuries associated with the demonstrations, though a statement from PPS said students who demonstrated would receive an unexcused absence. Vanport cont’d from pg 1 port, a quickly-built workforce housing town that became the most racially-diverse city in Ore- gon. The town itself was a model for racial integration during a time where most of the nation – including Portland -- was segre- gated. Vanport went from being the second largest city in Oregon to completely destroyed in a matter of hours. On Memorial Day, May 30, 1948, the dam protecting the city burst and a 10 ft wall of water destroyed homes, shops, a hospi- tal and a technical college. “ before the flood hit. The documentary series has expanded to include other voices who are closely related to the era such as Henry Kaiser, grandson of Henry J. Kaiser, the industrial- ist who owned the shipyards and built the Vanport housing proj- ect. Another new perspective to the documentary series is that of the relief workers who were called in to help as the floodwaters began to fill the town. Melvin Osbeck, who was a teenager at the time of the flood, volunteered to help. The town itself was a model for racial integration during a time where most of the nation was segregated Many of the voices in the series describe evacuating in a hurry and having to leave most of their possessions. Curnel Walden re- membered his mother packing frantically, grabbing only one bag of clothes. “We grabbed a bag with a change of clothes for everybody and that’s what we came out with,” he said. Walden’s family left their home to find his aunt, who also lived in Vanport. As the emergency si- rens wailed, she insisted on pack- ing a large trunk of possessions. He said everyone begged her to stop; telling her there was no time to pack. Ultimately, his aunt packed her trunk and got it out Osbeck called the relief effort “organized chaos” and said that volunteer effort was dangerous due to muddy sinkholes in the area. Sometimes the water only came up to his knees but people couldn’t tell where the ground had gotten too soft. “You’d be surprised, you’ll hit a sinkhole and you’ll be gone,” Os- beck said. Most of the narrators of the Vanport documentaries were children or young adults at the time of the flood. Some of them spoke of an idyllic childhood where life was humble, yet re- laxed. They remember the flimsy construction of the buildings and a lack of television. But they also recall happiness riding bikes or playing at the playground down the street from the hospital. Some spoke of a kind of bond among Vanport survivors. Sur- vivor Betty Duelen said that city wasn’t often talked about, but it was remembered by the children who had lived there. Dorothy and Hurtis Hadley were both survivors of Vanport and ultimately high school sweet- hearts who married. Like most children of the time, Vanport was a frightening experience for them, seeing their families rush out of their homes at dinner time. “Mother had set the table and so she just took the tablecloth and tied it into four corners with all the food on it and we left with that and the clothes on our back,” Dor- othy said. But the experience also made them live boldly and have a better life after Vanport. Hurtis started the band The Fabulous Majestics and had some success. He invest- ed in their prosperity by opening the first Black-owned bakery in Oregon. Though he and Dorothy were worried about running their own business and setting up shop in Oregon City, they thrived. For more stories of survival, check out the film screening this Sunday at the Hollywood The- atre. Tickets are free, but reserva- tions are required. Go to https:// wakeofvanport2016.eventbrite. com to reserve your seat. cont’d from pg 1 serving on the Portland School Board and the Oregon State Board of Trust- ees. She was the first African American “ PHOTO BY CHRISTEN MCCURDY Organizing and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Crowell has donated over $109,000 to the PCC Foundation which established Crowell has shown a life-long dedication to ed- ucation through her work board president of the YWCA of Great- er Portland and an active member of the Portland Chapter of The Links, Inc. an endowed scholarship in her name. She also created scholarships for technical program students at PCC Swan Island Trades Center. The library is the final project in PCC’s campus bond-funded construc- tion program. Since the bond referendum in 2008, two buildings have been added as well as an underground parking garage. Nearly every building on campus has seen renovations and upgrades. —Arashi Young Evelyn Crowell accepts award at PCC-hosted celebration