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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 1976)
PORTLAND OBSER/ER V ei. 8, No. 34 Thursday. July 8th. 1978 Itte por copy Racial disturbance hits Salem Some observers are expecting serious racial trouble in Salem this summer if sups are not U ken to alleviaU tension developing between Blacks and whites. The problems came to light last week after an incident in Bush Park, but Black residents say the Unsions have been pre sent for a long time. Last week w h iU youths broke into a fight at the park and an incident w ith the police took place. Shortly a fU r, three Black high school girls walked through the park and were accosted by w h iU girls and their boy friends. T w o of the girls w ent to get their mother and fighting between the two groups developed. The disturbance reached the point where w h iU youths were shooting from their cars and Blacks returned fire, and where Black-owned automobiles were damaged. N a U Proby. director of the United M inority W orkers, which has branches throughout the s U U . was asked for assis tance by Black residenU of Salem. Proby told the Observer that he atU nded a meeting in the M ayor’s office in Salem, Tuesday, called by the Salem Branch of the N A A C P . O f the 27 persons present, only five were Black and those had not been involved in the incident. “I called some of the people who were involved, and the three girls who had been at the park to come, but the meeting was closed when they arrived and they did not get to say anything." Salem police are denying that the ten sion is racial, saying it is a fued between tw o groups, one of which happens to be Rankins chosen Lion of the year George Rankin has boon named “Lion of the Year" by the Albina Lions Club. The aw ard is made on the basis of service to the club and the community. Among Rankins' recent setivitles are: helped organize D istrict 38 0 Golf Tourn- amnet at G earhart, and helped organise and served as M aster of Ceremonies for Albina Lions Annual Fashion Show and Bali. President A l Hickerson noted Ran kins' greatest contribution is in his stti- tude - "never say no" George was used often for meetings and social functions. "M any people steer clear of George be cause they know when they see him com ing that he is selling something in support of the Lions." On June 13th. 1976 at the Esquire Club, The Albins Lions Club of the In te r national Lions Club of Am erica and its Auxiliary held their annual Installation of Officers for the year 1978 to 1977. T here was a Banquet, and Dancing followed with music by the Hamiltones. Officers elected were: T erry W illiam son. President: Lonnie Bates, 1st Vice President; Charles Rawlins, 2nd Vice President; loo n McKenzie. 3rd Vice President: Preston Richie, Secretary: George Tribble. Treasurer; A l Rivers. Lion Tamer; John McCoy. T ail Tw ister. The Installation was conducted by M r. M ark Newman. D istrict Governor. Officers elected to the Auxilary are: Lyn Talbot. President: Connie Rankins. Secretary; Nadie Hickerson, Treasurer: Mae Richie. (2) y r. Director; S u l* Morehouse. (2) yr. D irector. Gladys Ricks. Tail Tw ister. Installation conduct ed by Mrs. Elaine Newman. T here were many awards given. Lions receiving awards were Al Hickerson, Isodore Maney, George Tribble, Allen Jones, Chick Rawlins. Preston Richie, George Rankins. Lonnie Bates. John McCoy, A l Nelson. Stan Johnson. Charles G anter and T erry and Allen Jones. Special Award was given to M rs. Gladys Ricks in memory of W a lt C. Ricks. Black and the other w h iU . One fact that did come out of the m eet ing was th a t of 260 city youth manpower jobs, none of the youth employed are Black. “T h e manpower director did say he would try to break U n jobs for Black youths - the bad ones." Proby said he had been criticised by the Salem Branch of the N A A C P for “in U rferin g " in Salem affairs, but empha sized that some of the Salem Blacks had been angry and frightened and called him for help. “1 went to Salem last Monday but couldn't accomplish anything there, so they came to Portlad the next day to a press conference - to try to get some publicity, in hopes of getting help in solv ing the problems. They said they did not have anyone to go to in Salem, and many were not aware that the N A A C P was there." Proby believes the situation in Salem is serious and th a t it w ill become exploaive if nothing is done to solve the conflict. "The city is toying to hush it up or say it is not a racial problem, when they should be toying to get the tw o groups together. When Black studenU see all the jobs going to whitos, they are going to get restless. Some of these problems could be handled before it becomes more serious." WALLY PRIESTLEY Wally Priestley joins School Board . - • * a * X* * be ^J - done — - - ~ because of f federal /I/i e o I laarw imln legislature est in believing they are doing the right or whatever reason - then we must know thing. This is not really the function of the reasons and all of the alternatives.” the board - it should act as an independen The chief responsibility of the board body, to weigh and act on staff recom being to direct the educational process, mendations. I t is elected to serve as the Priestley explained th a t although he has people's representative - not to repre never been involved in the school system sent the administration or to serve as a he is deeply interested in education. “W e public relations agent.” hear that students are not learning or Priestley is also concerned about the that they are turned off. T here is some board's relationship to the public - thing going on in the schools that fails to whether is is available and responsive to to i t " turn them on; we can't continuously put the public. Some citizens have expressed Priestley, who is an outspoken propon the blame elsewhere." opinion that although they are encourag ent for the participation of citizens in Priestley is interested in the adminis ed to appear before the school board, governm ent said he looks forward to tra tiv e transfer program - where the they do not feel they are really heard, working w ith the other school board children go. what children are selected, that their testimony w ill not influence members. “I hope they w ill accept me for how the program has grown, what grade decisions. what I am and listen to my ideas," he levels of children are bussed, who drops “I believe the board should have a close explained. “I w ill have to speak out and out of the program and why, how the exchange w ith the public, so th a t the question issues th a t concern me. I t is just students compare academically. people would have a real opportunity to my way. I hope that this will not be H e also is interested in women s rights be involved. T here has to be a structure, interpreted as hostility or abrasiveness, and the district's adherence to the new and meetings have to be carried on in a but as a real effort to make proper deci equal opportunity requirements. The dis more or less structured way, but I think sions." trict w ill have to adopt a policy or equal they are too formal now, without an op “I am going into the school board with rig ht to comply w ith federal regulations. portunity for exchange of ideas." an open mind but w ith some concerns. I “I am interested in how the policy w ill be Priestley also is concerned about the am looking at it as an outsider, and per carried out - will it be following the decision-making process. A large number haps a fte r I have been on the board for minimum requirements or w ill it be done of important decisions are made, some six months or so. Til find th a t many of my with enthusiasm and a recognition that is times w ithout adequate time or informa concerns are unfounded. Maybe, there right? tion. M any times, he has found, informa are valid reasons why things happen the Priestley defeated Paul Howe for the tion is received on Friday for an impor way they do." board position. His election was a sur tant decision to be made on Monday. “In One of Priestley’s m ajor concerns is prise to many political observers. the briefings, I have had from school about the functioning of the board itself. “I know there are many questions personnel, I have found most to be really “One of the attitudes I ’ve picked up from about my being on the school board - I open and helpful, but in some areas infor the public is that the school board seems don't fit into the mold. But I expect to be mation has not been provided. I have not to be a rubber stamp for the superinten a good member, open to the public, w ill been able to tell w hether it just isn't dent. A segment of the public believes ing to go to the schools to see what is available. I really hope that I w ill always that the board w ill support whatever the happening, willing to study and ask ques insist on having all the material neces administration believes is right. In dis tions and to disagree when I have to. I am sary to make decisions, and that I won't cussions w ith other board members. I get looking forward to this experience and I eventually fall into the bag of p ac rin j in the feeling that they view the situation as know that I w ill be productive and repre decisions because it is something that the board and administration working sent the people who elected me." must be done. I f we are told that it has to together as a unit and of course are hon- W ally Priestley w ill join the Portland School Board next week as its newest elected member. Priestley, who is also a State Representative from Northeast Portland, said he is excited and honored to have been elected to the school board. “This is an important job, representing the public in the educational system. There is much to be done in public educa tion and I hope to contribute something 'he will of the people of Angola Eliseo de Figueiredo editor's note: The folio wing remarks ere delivered by the U N Ambassador eaignate from the Peoples Republic of ngnla at a public forum held at T rin ity vangelkal Lutheran Church In New ofk C ity, A p ril 30th, 19761 I sUnd before you today as the repre sentotive of a newly nascent, newly inde pendent co u n to y-th e People's Republic of Angola. These words do not come easily to me, for freedom and sovereignty did not come easily to the Angolan people. W e fought hard and long, we sacrificed many sons and daughters of Angola. I t is after a long and arduous struggle, after long, weary years of fight ing against hopeless odds, that I can stand before you and u tte r these words. E very man. woman and child in Angola today, knows w hat it means to be finally and fully free, not only from foreign colonial domination, but also from the reactionary forces w ithin Angola that sought to perpetuate domination and ex ploitation to serve their own, narrow ends. Angola has rid itself of the disease of imperialism and colonialism, and stands ever vigilant to prevent a recur rence. No, friends, it was no easy task. For years we fought the Portuguese. We fought with meager guns and crude wea ponry, against sophisticated arms and ammunition, against not just the might of Portugal, but that of her W estern allies. Angolan children watched from under the palm trees as Portuguese planes bombed entire villages. And the Angolan people watched and fought as the imperialists. colonialists and African reactionary forces invaded, attacked, sabotaged and destroyed the country. W e fought, de fended and stood firm against internal and external threat. W e appealed for help, and a few brave friends responded. And we were dubbed “Soviet pawns. W here were the western critics of “outside intervention" in Angola in March 1975, when a neighboring African country invaded Angola, nine months be fore our Cuban friends arrived? W here w ere they when South Africa first invad ed Angola in August 1976. three months before Cuba fought on the side of the M P L A . W here were they in October and Novem ber when Luanda, the capital of Angola, was almost captured by South African, neighboring and mercenary troops, before Cuban soldiers had even landed on the soil of Angola? I t is worthwhile recalling some of the facta in the case. In March 1976, regular units of a neighboring army invaded the northern part of Angola, occupying Sao Antoniao do Zaire, at the mouth of the Congo River. A t the beginning of August 1975, South African troops entered the southern part of Angola, setting up bases at Pereira de Eca and at Calueque. On October 23rd. a South African column, spearheaded by 80 armored cars and heavy a rtillery units and supported by th fascist "Portuguese Liber ation A rm y" infantry, started a major drive to the north, the aim being to capture Luanda before November 11th, the date on which Angolan independence from Portugal was to be announced. M y people paid a high price, a very high price indeed, but we w ere able to block the South African advance at the Queve riv e r, 80 miles south of Dondo. The drive from the north was blocked on Novem ber 10th, at a point just 15 miles north of Luanda. I t was only a fte r the declaration of our independence, at the zero hours of the 11th of November, that we as a sovereign independent nation requested help from several friendly in dependent nations. L et me not give the impression that it was an easy task. Neo colonialism came very close to victory in Angola during the tense days of last November. Had it done so. Angola would have been securely in imperialist, reac tionary hands today, and the developing battle for the liberation of all southern Africa would have received a cripping blow, setting the independence move ments back many years. Angolan victory has paved the way for a vast intensification of the liberation struggle throughout white-ruled Africa. This is one of the m ajor dividends accru ing from the M P L A victory. Another dividend is the expansion of the struggle against neo-colonialism throughout A fri ca in general. As the People's Republic o Angola continues to w in m ilitary, political and diplomatic victories, it becomes clear forefront of the fight, w ith all our hearts, souls, minds and bodies. The Angolan victory over neocolonial ism has been a decisive development in the long struggle for independence and freedom of the people of Namibia (South W est Africa). W ith the triumph of the People's Republic of Angola to the north, the 600,000 people of Namibia now have some 9,000 miles of border with a strong ally where once they w ere surrounded by closely cooperating racist and colonialist regimes—the Portuguese in Angola, and South Africa, which continues its illegal occupation of the Namibian nation. L e t me state that our foreign policy has been, and w ill continue to be, one of non alignment. W e have been accused of being "Soviet pawns,” of dependence on a certain bloc. The fundamental nature of our international policy— which is one of non-alignment—springs simply and only from the real interests of our people. W e are against imperialism, colonialism, neo colonialism, reactionary regimes that sa botage the real interests of the people. W e are for all those who represent social justice and progress. Quite simply, we are non-aligned. President Neto stated: It is unneces that the Angolan conflict was. sary for me to underscore the fact that the end, but the beginning for the libera we intend to carefully guard our newly- tion of all southern Africa. The independence of Angola under the won Independence, lor which we have M P L A banner has raised the hopes of fought so long. I t is the pivot sround which the main lines of our foreign policy millions of men and women who are op pressed in southern Africa. I would add: are organized...We do not exclude rela Not only in Africa, but anywhere and tions w ith any country willing to respect everyw here that man is oppressed, our independence, our sovereignty, our where a racist minority rules over the proletarian internationalism and the pro indigenous m ajority, anywhere that the gressive nature of our revolution...No aid forces of exploitation, of imperialism and will be rejected, and we can affirm that „„loni.liam are active, we w ill be in the (Please turn to p.3 co l.l) afternoon in Peninsula Park.
