june fi. 2003
Continued from Page 8
of Portland, do 1 see all kinds of questionable
driving, including failure to stop at stop signs,
failure to use a turn signal while driving fast
and changing lanes, not to mention reckless
driving consisting o f weaving through freeway
traffic. Yet rarely do 1 see police officers around
these events, and if I do, I do not see them stop
ping someone for “failure to come to a com
plete stop” at a stop sign.
So exactly what does this really mean? Is it
a fallback position, much like “1 got my foot
stuck in the door” ? White privilege means 1
don’t have to worry much about these things.
“Driving while black” (or, in this case, “rid
ing while black” ) results in the tragic death of a
young woman. A young woman of color who
was out in a car late at night, the same activity
white people take for granted, although with
no thought of the risk it could entail. Maybe
coming home from a long trip or a social
evening out, etc.
Why in the first place did the police follow
this group of young black people? Do white
people worry about an officer following their
car? Are they sure to keep their hands in view
so the cop doesn’t shoot them (“1 thought he
had a gun” self-defense)?
Is “they didn’t stop at a stop sign” just
another in a long list o f self-defenses used
against the black men and women who feel
they have the right to he out, m oving freely,
without the risk o f being killed? T he black
community puts out m anuals for how to
interact with police and what are your rights.
Why? To save lives and prevent tragedies
such as this.
Kendra James didn’t sit quietly and didn’t
keep still while in the presence of officers. If
the police have an arrest warrant out and are
purportedly looking for her— when they see
that she is in an increasingly agitated state
(not to mention in a vehicle, which can be a
“deadly weapon” )— why don’t they simply
back off? In her case, the ultimate price was
paid during an interaction with “public serv
ants” out to (supposedly) “keep the peace and
protect the public.”
Then we hear on the news: The white offi
cer walks. And to add insult to injury, it is said,
“This has nothing to do with race.”
I do not understand why Portland is not on
fire with the rage of the injustice of this.
L inda K anzinger
Portland
An open letter to the
governor and Legislature
To
the
E ditor :
oday in Multnomah County, scores of par
ents, teachers and crime survivors are
breathing a collective sigh of relief with the
passage of Initiative 26-48, the temporary
income tax increase that directs millions of dol
lars to our aching schools, safe communities
and strengthening our social safety net.
T he citizens o f M ultnom ah County and
Beaverton voted overwhelmingly to support
our schools and social services, and for good
reason: T h e links between poverty and crime
are well docum ented and inescapable. Peo
ple living in poverty are twice as likely to be
the victim o f a crim e. G iv en that
inescapable truth, the voters have offered an
T
example of courage for the Legislature to fol
low— if they listen.
O f course, the temporary tax is only a
moderate fix for a m omentous problem.
More must be done to address the factors
that led to our current problem : over
reliance on incarceration as the solution to
crime, lack of stable funding for education
and, o f course, those pernicious tax breaks
that riddle O regon’s tax code.
Quite simply, the state can no longer look to
social services to balance the budget in the face
of a sagging economy and gloomy prospects. As
crime survivors, we are standing up to say that
the people have given enough. It is incumbent
upon you, Gov. Kulongoski and members of
the Legislature, to combine the power of your
compassion with the position of your office to
find more revenue for Oregon.
The voters of Multnomah County have
shown a willingness to sacrifice in times of cri
sis. Our only hope is that our state leaders will
prevail upon our wealthiest citizens, our corpo
rate citizens, to do the same.
D avid M. B a ker
Survivors Advocating for an Effective System
the
E ditor :
hank you Ju s t Out, for covering the recent
Howard Dean visit (“Dean Beats Around
the Bush in Portland,” May 16).
There has never been a candidate for presi
dent with more to offer our community. We
need to support him now when critical pri
maries are near.
It was great to see Terry Bean, Barbara
T
w ip o v r
aOlVJSSTJC
Lesb
Mention this ad and get a 10% discount.
J im M o rris
Portland
Hooray for Hollywood
To
the
E ditor .-
I’d like to thank Patricia L. M acAodha for
her article about our neighborhood group
(“Think Globally, A ct Locally,” May 16). It’s
important to me that queer folk be represented
among those helping issues that transcend sex
ual orientation.
It should be noted, however, that our
group is Hollywood Neighbors for Peace.
Q uestion s or com m ents can be sent to
Hollywood4peace@ yahoo.com.
L yn S yn clair
Portland
correction s
he May 16 article “Fixing a Hole” indicat
ed that 75 percent o f the YW CA of
Greater Portland Counseling Center’s clients
identify as queer. The correct number is closer to
50 percent. Just Out regrets the error.
T
Keen on Dean
To
Roberts, Bill Bradbury and Serena Cruz leading
the way for Dean’s Oregon campaign. Visit
www.deanforamerica.com to learn more.
• • •
he May 16 national newsbriefs misspelled
the name of U .S. Rep. Ileana Ros-
Lehtinen, R-Fla., and misidentified her as a
Democrat. Just Out regrets the errors.
T
tëagSSP Uger
“SAME DAY SERVICE ON MOST REPAIRS”
Repairs of All Makes & Models
Am erican • European • Im ports
Ca rs • Tru cks • RV*
I
W e Fix It Right the First Tim e
From Oil Changes to Overhaul.
Fred's Auto Works Does It All
Close to Downtown « F r e e Local Rides
All Makes & Models
"Fred's Auto Works...
Doesn't yours?"
Sarvlcaa Inc lu da:
• Maintenance • D E O
• Tune-ups - Poor Engine
Performance
• Brakes • Clutch
• All Electrical Problems
• Carburetors & Fuel Injection
• Pre Purchase Inspection
• Alternators & Starters
(Repaired, Rebuilt
or Exchanged)
^
3C &
926 SE Morrison, Portland • http://aandgautomotlva.uawMtdax.coni
“ ton 11
hálelo say?
Support our community!
We wish you a very
W hat are w ays w e can
c o m e to g e th e r?
HAPPY
PRIDE 2003
C ELIA LYON
T ER R I POPEJOY
($03) 260-6231
($03) 330-0400
Now is the time to express your views!
Iax>k for the survey in this issue of Just Out ,
fill it out and mail it in. Or fill ir out online at:
Call the best realtors for the job.
Celia & Terri your Power leant!
Bella Casa Realty Inc.
1523 SE Ankeny, Portland, OR 97214 • 503-231-SELL (7355)
WWW.
outwithit2003 .com
We want to hear from you!
A |>f>|crt ut ihr I X IKTt.l I >miniunitv ( > m rr Fumi
7