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.