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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1975)
« I I Portland Observer From behind the wall continually put into that “old trick bag” at the whim of a people who we know by Chari«« W illiam . Too often, we aee head linea in the newapapera declaring that crime ratea are on the up awing arroaa thia nation. Well, if one meaaurea that declaration by the vaat and over whelming number of new committmenta arriving here at O.8.P. then multiply by 50 the final analyaia muat be a definite yea! Usually we are given the viewa of thoae people de aignated aa ex perla in the field of corrections and the ever eluaive rehabilationa divisions and though theae p eo p le a re a o m e tim e a thought of aa being liberala, the fart ia, they are conditioned to think in inreal terma. I<et me aay now that thia article ia not merely a deprecating aaault on the many thouaanda of people working in the field of correctiona, aa obvioualy, there ia a demand for re socialization program a for the men and women preaently incarcerateci in thia nationa priaona. And equally aa important ia the many young people who are on the verge of entering into a life of crime. To aimply have available, vocational tra in in g pro grama without the outaidr contarla to plug theae new traineea into meana virtu ally nothing but a waste of tax dollara...it'a like know ing how to cook without food. For many ex felons, their total bank roll ronaiat of the amall dole, or if you wiah, discharge or parole allocation. The former being $100.00 and 150.00 for the latter. Now if we are to truly be realistic about this, just how far and how much ran be done with either of these sums the way prices keep going up? Remember too, that you are dealing with people who are in essence being re born, people looking for a place in a new lifestyle and they do indeed need more than "Good Intentions", because as their rash becomes less, the old feelings begin to return with additional con fused insecurity. Rut w a it, let's go back. Now we are at the beginn ing. (Trial & Conviction) Our brother has just re reived twenty years from the honorable judge D o right. Now the judge, recognizing that this man has a drug problem, informs that brother that while serving time, he can learn a trade, as well as receive counseling for his fight with drugs. The brother comes to prison, learns a trade, earns his G.K.D. certificate but there is no help for the w ar a g a in s t m ig h ty “Herion". No relation is formed between his need to “understand", and/or “rea son” for his habit. Men take antibuse so that they ran participate in the w o rk /s rh o o l release p ro gram. For drug users, well they must give periodic urine samples for testing and with that, they are expected to stop using. Now I ask you, is that real? I'm inclined to believe that it is only idealistic, and for those who have tried to give up smoking, multiply that urge to smoke by 1000, and you might come close to understanding the plight of a herion addict. Let's now look at another side of those incarcerated. Incarceration does not, per se, remove innate emotions and needs, and though prisons are over filled, it is a very lonely and unreal life. There is no love in prisons, nor is there any gentleness or real concern. Most people in prison are concerned only with the loved ones they left outside and their eventual release. Prison is a place where you are forced to turn off the faucets of human emotions, because too often kindness is taken for weakness. No, there is no love in prisons, and its been proven that all humans, need love or some form, from someone in order to survive. What I'm trying to say here is: Contact with loved ones and people that can relate ia extremely important. Corrections & Rehabilit ation people cannot just generalize a plan to apply to prisoners, because they are dealing with individuals. So the programs must be tailored to fit. Granted, the methods of dealing with law breakers has come a considerable long way from the old method. However, there is still room for more improvements and it's be coming more and more obvious, that the people presently holding these jobs as correctional staff, do not have the answers. Since we are dealing with the Black Prisoner, we must concentrate upon his situa tion. Black men are returned to prison from work release programs because of per sonality differences with the white staff supervisors and because a Blackman is known not to particularly care tor whites, he is marked as a trouble maker. He is then certain to be returned for; driving a car, taking a drink, things that the white inmates are seldom returned for. Very seldom is a Blackman re turned to this institution for committing a new crime, on the other hand, whites ape often returned for committ ing crimes against others while on the program and in many rases these men are not held long, and in some cases they are given paroles. Have you ever wondered why there are no Black people working in the work and school release houses throughout this state? Well it's something that you should look into because as long as Blacks are excluded from employment in these areas, there will never be any real representation for Blarkmen in prison. Every one that a Black man is supposed to deal with on any of these programs is white, and how does it sound going to another white man, to tell him that his brother is indeed doing you wrong. Hell, that's like telling Jessie James that Frank James just robbed you. • Because of the role that Rodio C ib Co played in the murder of 17 year old Rickie Charles Johnson • We hove the power Io stop supporting organization ond companies that have conspired with the police in the murder of Block people • We coll upon the Black community and other concerned citizens who want justice for oil to join us DO NOT CALL RADIO CAB CO.II QUESTIONS UNANSWERED BY THE INQUEST During the inquest why did Assistant Attorney Generol John Moore refuse to osk 25 questions submitted to him by the Johnson's family lawyer? • Why did Sanford shoot into the street at Homer Zachery? Sanford soidhe shot Rickie Johnson in the bock of the head because his life was in danger How con a man running down the street alto endanger ywu life? • Why was Homer physically abused by three officers? ft • Why was Rickie Johnson struck in the middle of the back of the head unless he was running from the police officer? • Why was Rickie Johnson's unloaded gun found ten feet from his body (behind him) unless he dropped it or threw it down and ran? • 00 Not Put Off Needed Dentoi (ore" En|oy D e n ta l H e a lth N o w a n d Im p ro v e Your A p p e a r r ice (OMi ik a ; TOUS ((iM flN H M l PPthSAÎUlÛA» M O lh A f • h0 AFPOlhiMihT M IDtü • (OMPIHt (OOPf RATIO» ON A ll OINIAI NUilANli PlANy • (O M P lIlt Of MAI .flk ilfS 1 STUDY ENGINEERING t, ‘‘Liberal Arts; College? YOU BET! And you'll attract em ploym ent faster. Linfield College is cooperating w ith major Engineering schools to offer a SPECIAL 3 —2 PROGRAM. You can attend Linfield for three years pursuing prc-Engineering courses, in addition to a solid pro gram o f Liberal Arts. At the end of three years, you will enter a major Engineering school as a junior, and in two more years com plete all requirem ents for both a B.A. Degree from Linfield and a B.S. Degree in Engi neering. Get your feet wet in the Engineering world while attending a smaller, more indi vidual oriented school like Linfield. At the same time broaden your horizons with a solid foundation in Liberal Arts. Because o f your more rounded education, y o u ’ll be a valuable asset to prospective employers. D EM AN D A FEDERAL IN V E S T IG A T IO N IN TO THE M U R D F R S O F RICKIE CHAR L E S JOHNSON CHARLES M E N E F E E , K EN NY A L IE N AND JOE' HOPK INS PORTLAND CLEANING WORKS FOR MORE INFORMATION PORTLAND ONE DAY SERVICE K N IT BLOCKING OUR SPECIALTY SUNOS SWAM*—NO OSASOf ncx - us a o eiv w v 2 «2-1361 3954 N .W illia m s * » . ‘Y e e 'v e Tried The Rest, N e w Try The Best" N . A le x a n d e r, Proprietor over... U N IO N O S C O M S A N V O IN T A l IN S U B A N C I C O V iS A C t A C f l P T IO O N T O O « N i i O f O O IN T IS TS Y Z o .b l.a » I r . l a ' t n S h e p te f H O U I S W s a h d o , , S J O c n, to S p at S a l 8 l O o tn ' o 1 p ttt DR. JEFFREY BRA DY, DENTIST SLMKR BUILDING S W 3 ' g A M o»--'-! ' v t - f c u l a n d T ake t te vo 'o > to O 'e q o rt i f lo o i 3»a S’ : t> c ct Phone: 2 2 8 -7 5 4 5 cWhat do they say • I I »ut ^Linfield? • Why do the police use racist ond filthy language when dealing with Black people? NORTH & N E like to destroy all people the world DR. JEFFREY BRADY Says: Mills receives a w a rd John A. Mills, retiring president of the Urban league of Portland, will be given the Levy Award at the organization’s annual d in n er m eeting F rid a y , April 18th. Also receiving awards for service to the Urban League will be H.J. Belton Hamilton and James Lee, both of whom have completed twenty-five years of helping the organization in various capacities. The dinner will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel at 7:30 p.m., with a social hour preceding the dinner and dancing to live music following. Cost is $10.00 per person. California Assemblyman W illie A. Brown, Jr. of San Francisco will address the meeting on the subject, “Now Is The Time." would Black Page 3 “ I hr«" I t is our hope to get the active involvement of all agencies and the Black Community. Without help and assistence from our own, we are destined to be W« demand the Justice Dept in Wash , DC order the FEI to investigate the murders of Rickie Charles Johnson 17, Charles Meoefee Kenny Allen, and Joe Hopkins, the four Black men who have been killed by the Portland Police Dept within the last six months BOYCOTT RADIO CAB CO.!! Thursday, April 17, 1975 Linfield College is a lour year indc pendent educational institution ol the arts and sciences. Its size.curriculum and goals offer a broad, liberal and person alizcd education which recognizes that learning is a total, rather than an isolated, experience. I infield oilers year around study employment programs. Iinauci.il advaii tages and over 100 academic scholarships to qualified students without financial need. lor an informational packet about the 3 - 2 PRO GRAM, and Linfield College, please rush your name and address to: 3 2 PROGRAM, ITean of Admissions, Linfield College, McMinnville, OR. 97128. NAM F._____________________________________________ _ AOOR ESS_________________________________________ __ _______________________________ZIP_____________________ HIGH SCHOOl__________________________________ _____ CAROLYN CURRIE, a Linfield Liberal Arts graduate, says she made lasting friendships at the college. “ Friend ships I couldn’t have made in larger schools.” TOM EUCKER. an Engineering Major, says he likes the idea of two degrees and Linfield's work- study program. “Also, I get to know most of the students. It's relaxed here, unbeatable.” ANDY PASZOWSKI, a Physics Major, says he chose Linfield over several other private schools. “I’m glad to get away from a large city. People around here are friendly.'’ VICKIE BENTZ, a Chemistry Major, says she is a person, not a number, at Linfield. "In the smaller classes 1 get to know the material better and it makes studying easier.”