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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1977)
From behind the wall by Larry O.S.P. Sal 35021 “There are only two kinds of people in American prisons: Good Black men i u m I bad white men. The bad white m e n include guards and fellow prisoners all Ics >, and most Black men are in prison fot being Black." Ted Mahar, the Oragesdw a May I t , l i m On Saturday afternoon. May 7. 19T Z over a hundred Black prisoners aasen i- bled on the recreation yard of the Or»«« « State Penitentiary, for the main purpot w of discussing steps to protest the confi a e- ment of Harold Kamick. John Plolite, at id William Farmer, who earlier in the w ei sk had been placed in Solitary (The Hole ,). The three Black men were accused of having a verbal altercation with a new ly hired white guard who had a b ru p tly offended Hamick among his fellotv in mates by demanding the Hamick sh ut 1 ap. (during a shower period.) As told to this Reporter by in itiates who witnessed the affair, Plolite ar id Farmer came to Hamick'a defense as fi ve O.S.P. guards stationed themselves I je- tween Hamick and the guard but only as witnesses to how the verbal exchiU tge began. In doing such all three B 'jx k s were placed in “The Hole” p ending investigation. Many of those «Pack prisoners who had witnessed the «w ent did not believe such disiplinary ac tion was warranted and viewed this tut an other form of harrassment by pri son staff. During the mass Black assembly B lack prisoners related to others what tha.v had witnessed and gave their version of the situation. To protest the mishap, s uch opinions were suggested from boycot ting prison assignment - to taking I egal actions, the legal approach was cho sen. As this Reporter mingled among the large gathering of Black prisoners I < ould not help but admire how orderly and intelligently the Black leaders in this prison had constructed the assembl y so that it would not get out of ha nd • especially with a subject being as to uchy as “How to handle past and future* j racial harrassment by white guards.” C tther prisons across the United Staton have had bloodsheds and destruction - i k ich as Attica. On the following Tuesday afternoon. May 10th, the second meeting waa held in the Activities Department of O.S.P. between Administration, Captains of the Guards and Black prisoners to iron out complaints, grievances and problems recently shadowing this prison. From A d m in is tra tio n : H .C .C upp, Superintendent. J.C. Kenney. Assistant R.E. Pribble, Director of Security, R.L. Versteg, Director of Activities. From Guards Staff: Captain Clayton Jacbaa, Lt. Harold Whitley, Lt. E.E. Good. Training Officer, Ed Ban. Among the Black prisoners were the Coordinator Ray Charles Maple and his full executive board of the O.S.P. Black Culture Organ! cation, which represents the rising population of over 800 Black inmates among the 1500 total prison: Dennis Whitlow, Secretary; Deone Washington, legal advisor; Charles Williams and Nate Howard, advisors. To the surprise of many concerned the Coordinator. Charles, had invited all other presidents and coordinators who make up the entire prison representation to participate in the open diacussion. Riley Gardener, (Cycle Club), Charles Bose (Bible Club). Koi Anttial (Chess Club), Alvin Hersha (Slot Car Club), George Haller (High Rollers), Jerry Albers (Athletic Club), Mike Taggart (Lifers). Danny Longoria (Chicano Club), and George Rose (Islamic Faith). The message Maple immediately pre sented to the O.S.P. staff was the actions many of the guards were »-«king against prisoners within recent months - that it was no longer a black problem, but an It was related by Riley Gardener that there seems to be a movement by certain guards to create racial disturbances between Blacks and white inmates. Mike Taggart told the Administration it was felt there was a movement by guards to undermine many of the present prison procedures. L t. Good explained that his office had not received ninety-nine percent of the complaints that were being voiced at this meeting. M r. Ban assured the group no such movement of harrass ment has been adopted in his depart ment. Superintendent Cupp called for sug gestions as to how everyone could start Aaron Hoary praises AuCoin Aaron Henry at Mississippi, Cha irman of the National Rural Housing Cio alition praised Congressman Leo A u C o in , (D- Oregon) for Us leadership in g u id in g a series of rural housing ameiMb menu through the housing committee « < the « * . ' House a t Representatives. Henry said that had it not been 1 or the persistence and skill of R epresentative AuCoin in preparing the legis lotion, discussing it with other memliei rs and explaining both the need and t i n > desir ability to the Committee, “we wo u Id have once again had a housing bill th at was totally urban in character-one which completely ignored 75-million r u r a l citi- sens who suffer an even higher p ercent age of inadequate housing than d< » those in urban areas.” The AuCoin amendments to t he Ad ministration's Housing and Com munity Development Act of 1977, would require the U .8. Department of A griculture's. Farmers Home Administration (I^ m H A ) to implement several tural prog? ams in housing which have long been eommon- plaee in urban programs. -It would permit rural borrv.wers to prepay taxes and insurance « i their homes in the same way banka escrow such similar payments for otheir home owners; I t would require the Fm H A to operate the rural rent supplement program authorised by Congress in !H)74, but never instituted. Tenants in rxmiiai units financed by Fm H A would need pay only 25% of their income for rent, with the balance assumed by Fm HA; -It institutes a program of compensa tion for defects in new Fm H A financed homes, where diligent inspertkm by the government would have disclosed the defect before the borrower purchased the home. (Fm HA may subsequently recover any cost incurred from the negligent builder.) -Makes elderly and handicapped persons and families fully eligible for all Fm HA housing programs. Other provisions would establish a research office within Fm H A to study problems peculiar to rural housing; insure that at least 80% of the home- ownership and rural monies are utilized for the benefit of low-income families; extend housing programs to farmworkers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands; and, other technical amendments de signed to make present programs work more easily. Henry, in assessing the future of the rural amendments said that “the biggest difficulty has now been overcome and the Bill will certainly pass the House of Representatives. The Senate Subcommit tee on Rural Housing will consider a similar Bill next week. I think they cannot help but be influenced by the action of the House Committee in adopt ing the AuCoin Amendments.“ Portland Observer working together to resolve these in ternal problems. One of the inmates from the audience suggested R.E. Pribble be given full authority to investigate all serious matters concerning disciplinary purposes. It was stated that Pribble was a person feared by many, liked by a few, but respected by all. Superintendent Cupp approved this action. It was informed at the meeting, the newly hired guard had been reassigned to the prison annex. (He waa the one who told Hamick to “Shut up".) Cupp was asked about the Adminix trations future goals - a move toward punishment or rehabilitation? Cupp explained the public pressure and the recent crime wave along with new laws being promoted by the state's legislature plus the over-crowding at O.S.P. make programs--for rehabilitation difficult to promote. He hopes programs assisting prisoners will continue to exist. J.C. Kenney added that if another prison is built it would be a very small one to handle hardened and uncontrollable individuals. This Reporter, at this point, searched the crowded room for anyone in the audience from Prison's Inmate T reat ment Staff, but found none. The meeting was adjourned on a smoother avenue than it opened. “Ain’t No Niggers Here, No More." All these men were working together to live in peace and harmony in a city. Behind the Walls. From Four Corner's Trinity United Methodist Church in Salem - Hughe« Memorial Methodist Church in Albina. There is unfolding one of the most beautiful events that I have ever had the opportunity to report. Hughes Memorial Methodist Church once had one of the largest Black church congregations in Portland, Oregon, out over the years and due to financial problems, along with a decrease in attendance, this church has dwindled down to a precious few. Today, Hughes Memorial is in despar- ate need of funds to keep it’s doors open and to participate in many of the Albina community's involvements as it has been soulfully sung out. Even so fondly that it touched the hearts of an all white congregation in Salem, Oregon named Trinity United Methodist Church on Elmore Street. Every year, T rin ity United Methodist has an offering on Christmas and Easter Sunday. These offerings are called “Love (From O.S.P. Correspondent: I wish to acknowledge the many kind letters received by the staff and myself on behalf of 'Behind the Walls'. We hope to continue collecting and reporting events and things which go on at the Oregon State Penitentiary as we see them.) 1 feel like i'm in a cage, I feel like an animal. I feel like i’m in a zoo, like pets they tell us what to say and what to do. If i felt like a human. I'd feel like i was on a stage, White people come, and white people go. but for us blacks humph! we never know. In my cell i look down the highways, that used to be my life, and i count on my fingers my days, the feeling of freedom is subbing like a knife. Will i ever rise, like the morning sun, because you see, you can't close the door on the sun, but you can on me, OH! LORD, GOD A LM IG H T Y , PLEASE SET M E FREE. BobN« . by Diane Jordan Women's Prison CalTs YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED what your property could sell for on the present real estate market. Call Cal or Bob for a market value update. No obligation, of course. Still serving the community AS THE HOME FOLKS FOR f. fi. Stassens, Inc. Realtors Hollywood Office 288.8871 ■ 'S we help you G R O W ... ¡X I 1 Gas rate conference scheduled A prehearing conference w ill be held Friday, May 20 to consider Cascade Natural Gas Company's request for a 5.6 percent rate increase, according < to Public U tility Commissioner Charles Davis. Davis suspended for 6 months effective May 22 company-proposed schedi ties that would increase the bill of a typical residential customer using 84,.P< therms from 925.32 to $26.49 per monti h. Cascade, with headquarters in Seattle, W ashington, serves approx im ately 17,600 customers in northeast ern and central Oregon, including the cities of Baker. Hermiston, Bend and Madras. I f its request were approved, residen tial rates would increase 4.6 percent, commercial rates 5.3 percent, and indus trial rates 6.2 percent. The increase would generate an additional $839,371 annually in Oregon. The conference will be held at 10 a.m. in Room D, Labor and Industries Building in Salem. Anyone wishing to be a party to the case must appear at the conference and formally say so. ROZfLL'S SPBCIAL PRICN TO JUNB’7 7 3 Pancakes, Sausage or Ham...$1.25 Ham, two eggs....$1.50 Bar B-Q Rib Dinner...$3.50 Fried Chicken Wing...25c Call in your order 283-5559 N.E. UNION AT AIN8WORTH Paga 9 Caged Offerings." Monej is raised to support the needs of others throughout the world. These needs are turned into projects, and commissions are contributed to the "Love Offering” too. For this year the “Love Offering", taken on Easter Sunday, referred to as “30 Pieces of Silver", Trinity United Memorial had chosen the following pro ject and the amounts. 1. Methodist Home for the Retired Senior Citizens in Salem, Oregon $500. 2. A sister church in the Philippine Islands to help buy a recording machine toexchaige and spread the gospel (Word of Jesus) verbally $100. 3. India, to help support an Indian student through college $300. Trinity United Methodist heard the message of an assistant district supervi sor for the Oregon Methodist Churches, Bill Walker, a frequent visitor to O.S.P. and volunteer of many years helping prisoners behind the walls, state Hughes Memorial’s financial needs. The church wants to hire a highly motivated top Black minister who could take control of this well known beautiful church that sits squarely in the middle of Portland's large Black community, and glory again. The entire “30 Pieces of Silver” raised last Easter was pledged. Over $1000 was contributed. It that was the end of the report, then this reporter would write “a nice thing is happening”, but there's more. Trinity United Methodist is sending it’s youth choir to sing and have fellowship with Hughes Memorial. Along with that youth choir will go a blind youngster noted for his guitar folk song playing throughout the Salem area, and does he see the color of skin? Now, the event becomes a beautiful one. The touch of humanity, physical as well as spiritual. Quite a few personnel working at O.S.P. are members of Trinity United Methodist, including one of the founders and board members of their Mission’s Commission. He has been hanging around here behind the walls, some twenty-five years. Who? John Akins, director of the counselors. He also has a little worn Bible in his lower left hand desk drawer, that has been there just as long as he has —and it’s Something of Value. Thursday. May I f . 1977 I Your money grows with high interest paid on all savings accounts. 5 1/a % on Passbook Accounts. . . helping your money grow . . . just a few of the good things at W ILLA M ETTE frdOxuv A S S O C IA T IO N Milwaukie, Downtown at Washington and Broadway, Walnut Park and Canby. X X *
