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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 1979)
Pag* 8 Portland Observer October 18. 1979 Behind the Wall by Larry Baker »35021 O.S.P. Correspondent LET THE NIGGER DIE His education was limited. His health was poor. And his skin was Black. 1 he nineteen year old youth found himself physically too weak to raise his frail, bruised 125 pound body up o ff the cold, dirty cement ja il cell floor onto the iron bunk. He could only lie there and wipe o ff the blood caking his swollen lips. He dared not move in fear o f the knife-like pains striking sharply at his groins. It had been only a few hours earlier that he had been arrested for trying to break in to a Northeast Portland pharmacy in order to steal and to feed his body on drugs. Yes, he also was an addict After his arrest, he had been taken to the Rocky Butte County Jail, but while being booked he found his stomach becoming sick enough to cause instant vomiting, he could not recall the last tune he had eaten, but this was a normal occurance when he went w ithout drugs over a long period o f time. Suddenly the young Black youth found himself being slapped, kicked and cursed at by a group o f correc tional officers and dragged into this darkened cell he now occupied. And now, after hours o f loneliness, the ‘ ‘ black outs" came with a com for ting relief. Even though he knew it would be impossible for him to ob tain a " f i x ” , it was a more im possible iask to call on any strength in his body to rise himself o ff the floor and onto that iron bunk. O ften he found him self m ur- mering out in a weakened voice to the guards in a plea fo r medical assistance, or if nothing else, for a sympathetic ear. He only received laughter as one guard would relate to another, “ Let the nigger die.” David Crawford »39830 Assistant Correspondent The story is quite familar to many o f the Black youths who are incar cerated behind the walls o f OSP and tahe fences o f the Oregn C orrec tio n a l In s titu tio n . Many had to escape the pressures and tortures o f Rocky Butte Jail with a plea o f guilty for what ever relief they might get through the courts. Regardless, even years later they have sleepless nights remembering those words at Rocky Butte: "L e t the nigger die." Strange as it may seem, this story was not written simply to discuss the physical abuse our Black youth sub ject their bodies to. It was written to enlighten our readers to the process being undertaken today inside this prison - an effort to restore those broken Black bodies which walk through these gales after spending a long period o f time in facilities such as Rocky Butte. It is not surprising to read in today’ s headlines, " M u lt nomah C ounty C orrectio n A d m inistrator Demotes Rocky Butte Jail O ffic ia ls ’ ’ or "C o rre c tio n a l A d m in is tra to r Hires New In stitutional Director". The question is why has it taken so long and how much damage had to be done to these youth incarcerated thre waiting trial? There is a phrase instilled into many Black fam ilies. "C re a te a healthy body and you create a healthy m ind.” Many o f the Black youth at this prison are trying to restore that reality. Daily they work the iron pile, wrestle with the extra 5 pound weight they could not lif t yesterday or struggle nightly in their cells for those extra push-ups failed the night before. Many have even obtained a motto that encourages them to achieve such strength. It ’s called "E at your heart out, Harl Haas. They slate this in retaliation lor "L et the nigger die.” Other attorneys advised the jury that since the defendents all lived in a small community, many had gone to school together, and many were related, it is not unusual that they would be in contact with each other. Telephone calls or visits could not be construed as a conspiracy. Terrance Hunt, attorney for Freddie Harris, said the investigation grew out o f a desire to prosecute Jackson, Moore and Waddy and the subsequent ef forts were to accomplish that end. The principal method was to get others they believed to be involved to agree to testify by holding over their heads the threat o f prosecution. Tommy Hawk, attorney for Kerry Woods, said the government’s " in side” witnesses are convicted fellons, addicts, pushers, who are promised immunity. "Listen to the promises the governemnt has made to induce them to give testimony - what they have to gain and what they have to lose.” Neil Van Horn, special agent for the Drug Enforcem ent Ad ministration testified that on June 27, 1979, he searched the 1964 Rolls Royce belonging to Sherman Jackson, finding a bill o f sale for his Pool H a ll, an address book and several receipts, M ike McGone o f the Drug En forcement Adm inistration testified that he arrested Conway Waddy in his C oldw ater Canyon home in Beverly Hills. Defense attorneys ob jected to witnesses descriptions o f the luxurious home and automobiles. Officer Mike Johson o f the Port land Police bureau testified that he Its hard to say good-by from this far away Its hard to tell who’s crying when it rains Its hard to say you’re alone. The words fall softly but only the truth remains; “ What am I chasing now” ? I ask myself out loud Acting proud... I'm only made o f straw, thats how it is something seems I ell me how can you sleep when you have no dreams The moon has cease to be a friend o f mine, It hides behind the tree's and refuses to shine Refuses to shine... n 1 12x12 25C e a . A lth ou g h the Oregon State Penitentiary is desperately in need of a drug program that would help cure those inmates who search for treat ment during their incarceration, it does make available plenty o f body building equipment and encourages inmates to utilize it. t harles W. Colson, former coun sel to Richard Nixon and author o f Born Again , has accepted an in vitation from the OSP Class o f Legal Processes to visit the penitentiary on October 24th. Colson will talk with the class, a d m in is tra tio n and in mates. His Prison Fellowship w ill present a live day seminar at the prison in December. WE W AITING This morning Fog on the beach Blowing wetness cold I knew You walking there I behind these bars This afternoon Cold on the strand Clear bitter own You knew me waiting here You out there This evening Cold bitter dark Severe bleak stark tYe knew We our own Survives Robert Benjamin Franklin EXODUS t 'e n f a 1518 N E KILLINGSWORTH PORTLAND OREGON 9721 1 284 7997 EXODUS OCTOBER FOLLOW-THROUGH PLYWOOD! Sanaed Shop Grade Som e items not available at Milwaukie but they have 20% off on vallpaper sr ft carpet | HC DOORS Open 8am 6pm Mon Sat Sunday 12 Noon Spm Knowing Follow-Through Keys is Important $2.50 UP SC DOORS $29. Style ft Rail M 0 00 Energy Savers by G.E. 7 95 Formica Cutouts Graden stakes 3 ” Plumbing items 50 25 10% off Knowing how to recognize and use the important Key to unlock what you want, and to lock out what you don’t want is im p o rta n t. For instance, can you recognize the key to the following objectives? PANELING 4x8 $2.99 and up Roof Coating Fireplace inserts #2 Medicine cabinets Bath vanities Picnic table Et henches Prehung doors 18" Marlite Panels 8 ft. Cafe doors Passage locks Jambs. Pre) W hat is 10% off 195 00 20% off 20% off 49 95 $15.96 2.00 29 00 2 50 7.96 U-PAK BUILDING MATERIALS, INC. .NORTHSIDE^ 5212 NE UNION 284 9938 Even w ith that in m in d, this correspondent can d efin itely state that at least f if t y per cent o f something is better than one hun dred per cent o f nothing. It is a thousand times better than those words, "L e t the nigger die.” Ú f/uraÁs u a f a n ¿ / 40 lb bg $6.95 FREE USE of our blower Pattern FORMICA PREFORMED COUNTER TOPS $1 50 up Solids, Butcher Block ft Marble Stainless sinks $34 96 Ceramic Tile 4 in. Be Washerless faucets 20% off K D Cabinets No doors 5 00 Toilets, wh 42 00 Desk Tops 25 00 Windows, odd $5 25 00 Light Fixtures 40% off Now the sun has gone down, the clouds are threatening And I stand alone like some sort o f king This is my kingdom but theres nothing here I he peasants have left, they had nothing to bring Selfishly I drink my wine I close my eyes in the midst o f time Someone strike a match I ’ ll go up in flames Like the saint I am playing holy games You can watch me die, my ashes flow away And I ’ll be reform, that's the price I pay The price I pay... . Michael Stephens Roher't r h ° d K Gre9, M ° rm an‘ Te- V Kenndy. Fred Trainer. Roy Branch. Robert Chambers. Jake Forrest bring it all together had investigated the September 24, 1975 robbery o f Sherman Jackson’s house. He stated that Jackson reported the theft o f $15,000 in cash, which he said was obtained from the sale o f a car, and $16,000 in jewelry. O ffic e r Johnson testified that he asked Jackson, “ Are you still in the nacrotics trade?” and that Jackson replied that he was. Assistant U.S Attorney Charles Turner said he was attempting to show that Jackson’ s only income was from the narcotics trade. This testimoney was given without the jury present. The trail is estimated to last from five to six weeks. BLOW IN INSULATION Grenoble « a 1 BANK CAROS WELCOME — YOUR CHECK TOPI U - P A K 'T E T E ” lArm*,ron9 CEILING TILE The last thing she said was “ Every broken heart mends” But tell me who can you call when you’ ve got no friends | What can you do in the wintertime Where do you go when the highway ends They say "Keep on singing those blues!” And I guess thats true But how about something new Its always the same old song about love and death W on't you please hold on, let me catch my breath Sweet sunlight - sweet rain I m lost at night with the same old pain The same old pain... Robert Chambers developing a healthy body. Building Material 1 Julius Snowden 380/3 Editor SCARECROW (for the blues singer) Drug conspiracy trial begins (Continued from page 1 col. 6) there are three Crawfords -- Larry, Donnie and Ronnie, and that the prosecution has confused them on ocassion. Lucid Walls o f Time SOUTHSIDE 15Ì23 SE McLOUGHLIÑ M ILW AUKIE, 654 6508 the key to successes the key to happiness the key to health the key to wealth the key to money the key to respect W hat is - - - - • - the key to failure the key to misery the key to sickness the key to poverty the key to lack of money the key to disrespect Can you identify the keys to: - maintaining a successful! business - finding and holding a good job - raising a successful family Answers to these questions will be shared by Dr Thomas Rnnth«, n Marketing (o, American State Bank and author of t ^ o l ^ h r S cept. During the month of November, cell 284 7997 for schedules ” ♦ "
