news
No J udgment R eached in
O regon M arriage C ase
As newlywed couples in
Multnomah County watch and
wait, the Oregon Supreme
Court is moving slower than
molasses in deciding the legality
of their unions.
Nine months after Basic
Rights Oregon, the American
Civil Liberties Union and nine
plaintiff couples filed Li vs. Ore
gon seeking marriage equality
for same-sex couples, the justices finally heard
the case Dec. 15. There has been no movement
yet on the case.
“We continue to wait. It could be weeks, it
could be months," says Roey Thorpe, executive
director of Basic Rights Oregon.
Bonnie Tinker, Love Makes a Family execu
tive director, adds: “The families of lesbian and
gay couples are at risk when society refuses to
grant them the rights and the responsibilities
that other families have. Equal justice is a right
required by Section 20 of Oregon’s Constitution
and consistent with our society’s deepest values.
Justice should not be denied or delayed.”
ogy of white supremacy that targets
Jews, people of color, feminists,
immigrants, sexual minorities and
communists.
Neighbors Together Against
Hate will take the opportunity to
reaffirm their shared values and
show that hate is not welcome in
their community. They are plan
ning a Unity Rally to honor the dig-
nity and worth of all people, regard
less of the color of their skin, their
religion, their sexual orientation or
their gender.
The event will start 1 p.m. at the Multnom
ah Center, 7688 S.W. Capitol Highway. The
rally will feature community and government
leaders, music and a kids activity room.
Signs and banners promoting justice and
understanding are welcome. You can download
and print out a window poster at www.swni.org.
Multiple community organizations are
endorsing the rally: Office of Neighborhood
N eighbors U nite A gainst H ate
The Tualatin Valley Skins, a hate group from
the Portland metro area, plans to conduct a
racist leafleting Jan. 8 in Southwest Portland.
They will meet at a park and then branch out
into several surrounding neighborhtxxls, passing
out fliers promoting bigotry and denigrating
many minority groups.
The Skins are affiliated with the neo-Naji
group Aryan Nations. They promote the ideol-
Neighbors Together
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AGAINST HATE
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Involvement, Southwest Neighborhoods,
American Jewish Committee, American Asso
ciation of University Women, Basic Rights Ore
gon, Coalition Against Hate Crimes, Friendly
House, Havurah Shalom, Jewish Federation of
Portland, Congregation Koi Shalom, Neighbor-
hcxxJ House, Oregon Hadash: Jewish Medita
tion Center, Portland Chapter of Hadassah,
Portland Trail Blazers, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian
Church Mission Team, Uniting to Understand
Racism, National Association of Social Workers
and SOLV.
That same afternoon,
several feminist, civil
rights, Jewish, labor, anti
racist, sexual minority,
left and immigrant rights
activists and organiza
tions will hold a counter
demonstration at noon in
Gabriel Park because
“neo-Nazis threaten the
rights and safety of people throughout the
Northwest,” says Marian Rhys, an organizer of
the ad-hoc coalition. Gabriel Park is the center
of the area’s Jewish community and has the
region’s highest concentration of Muslims.
“The counterdernonstration is a community
event, a time for everyone who believes in
human rights to come together. Our message is:
Let’s work together for justice and equality and
let the racists know that hate is not welcome in
Southwest Portland or anywhere,” urges Marjie
Sandoz, a Southwest Portland resident.
’
Jordana Sardo, former Freedom Socialist
Party candidate for state representative in Dis
trict 45, adds: “The ad-hoc coalition believes
that people ready to rake a stand for civil rights 1
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are the best antidote to displays of Hitlerism.
However, rallies happening a mile away sends
these thugs the message that we’re giving up the
neighborhood to them for the aftemix>n. The
absence of visible opposition allows Nazism to
grow."
Gabriel Park is located along Southwest Ver
mont Street between 37th and 45th avenues
and is accessible by Tri-Met bus No. 1. For more
information and to get involved, call
503-516-6557 or e-mail jsardo60@hotmail.com.
If you receive a flier that contains any gener
al threats of violence, save it and call Stephanie
Reynolds of the Portland Police Bureau at
503-823-3131 or Officer Scott Westerman at
503-823-0235. They will collect the informa
tion and turn it over to the appropriate units.
L ove M akes a F amily S ponsors
S peakers W orkshop
In light of the recently passed Ballot Mea
sure 36, Love Makes a Family will sponsor a
speakers training workshop about same-sex mar
riage Jan. 15.
The Rev. Cecil Charles Prescod, director of
the organization’s Marriage Equality Project,
notes, “The recently passed constitutional
amendment, which places discrimination into
our state’s foundational document, means that
we need to continue our efforts to talk to our fel
low citizens about how this negatively impacts
our families.”
The workshop will take place from noon to
3 p.m. at Ainsworth United Church of Christ,
2941 N.E. Ainsworth St. The event is being held *
in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.
Continued on Page 6
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