Pag« 2 Portland Observar April 24. 1900
EDITORIAL/ OPINION
Africa in the news
by N. Fungai Kumbula
Two commissions: Not one
'he Black and Hispanic communties have
asked fo r state com m issions to study and
document the problems faced by those groups
in O regon and to address rem edies. The
governor has replied with an offer of a joint
committee on minorites, and has appointed a
Task Force to study the feasibility. That his
com m itm ent is to one commission and not
tw o has been ably represented by his em
ployees.
It should be clear by now that a m inority
commission is not what has been advocated
by these groups and a minority committee is
not acceptable.
It is true that Blacks and Hispanics suffer the
same injustices and are subjected to racism
and discrimination. But the types of repression
and the effect on peoples with diverse cultures
and b a ckg ro unds are d iffe re n t and the
corrective measures will have to be different.
Hispanics themselves are diverse enough to
have a w ide range of specific and unique
problems. For example: Am ong those con
Z IM B A B W E :
sidered as Hispanics are Chicanos, Cubans,
Puerto Ricans, Latin Americans and persons
from other Spanish speaking areas of the
world - each group w ith its own history and
culture. There are urban and rural residents;
perm anent residents, m igrants and fo rm e r
migrants; native born Americans, recent im
migrants and illegal alliens; those who speak
only Spanish and those w ith only Spanish sur
names. A commission w ould be kept busy
dealing w ith the problems and needs of these
vastly different groups of people, let alone
tackle the problems of Blacks.
The Bureau of Labor and Industry already
has the power to carry ot the broad functions
of a minority or human relations commission -
to investigate institutional racism and educate
the public. W hat is needed now are separate
Black and Hispanic com m issions th a t can
docum ent and address problem s unique to
their own communities.
A joint commission would only defuse, con
fuse and divide the effort.
Roberts provides leadership
Oregon C om m issioner ot Labor and In
dustry Mary Wendy Roberts is to be com
mended tor her call for a special session of the
legislature to plan for the growing economic
crisis.
Commissioner Roberts is responsible for
apprenticeships, wage and hour com plaints
and civil rig h ts c o m p la in ts. In tim es of
recession and rising une m p loym ent these
areas are critically affected. Opportunities for
a p p re n tice sh ip s d im in ish , em ployers are
unable or unwilling to pay wage claims, and as
competition tor jobs increases discrimination
prevails.
Commissioner Roberts points to a 20 per
cent drop in housing starts and a projected
annual decline of 50 per cent; the closing of
plyw ood mills thro ugho ut the state; a $25
m illio n cu t in the H ighw ay D e partm ent
budget, layoffs and profit losses by major em
ployers.
A lth o u g h O re g o n 's e co n o m y is in te r
dependent with that of the nation, she said it is
not productive to merely blame outside forces
b u t leadership m ust be exercised w ith in
Oregon.”
Prior to the proposed legislative session, her
Bureau w ill assemble technical inform ation,
economic analysis and indices and seek com
m unity participation in determining how the
Bureau can best address the economic con
dition.
When Wendy Roberts was campaigning for
office she said she would not merely sit back
and let problems come to her desk, but would
aggressively pursue the problems and issues
that relate to employment and industry.
This action is evidence that her campaign
promises were more than mere words. It is
rewarding to finally see a state agency take the
re sp o n sib ility to tackle problem s th a t are
critical to the least served members of the
public.
I o the community:
Once again, we wish to express
our graiiludc tor your show o f sup
port As you may know the P.P.S.
Hoard ot I dotation has made some
d e c isio n s related to educational
issues raised by yourselves and the
H U I However, we believe actions
taken so tar are not enough regar
ding the fu tu re ot our ch ild re n ’ s
educational needs. The struggle still
ahead ot us may not end in a matter
ot days, months, or even years, but
we must maintain the highest level
ot com m itm ent and sp irite d
cooperation for the benefit o f our
children.
We ask, therefore, and believe
your
continued
support
is
crucial/needed. Permit us to express
a special Thank You by recognizing
the support from the follow ing
organizations who publicly backed
the B.U.F. plan:
A lbina M in iste ria l Alliance,
African Student Union - P.S.U.,
Black Caucus - P.S.U., Committee
to Support The B.U.E., Fight Back,
N.E. Coalition o f Neighborhoods,
N.E.
M in o rity
C ontractors
Association. Oregon Assembly for
Black Affairs, Oregon Fair Share -
A lbina Chapter, and T .H .E .
C.R.I.B.
Although we have recognized the
above named organizations, we
Join movement for public power
To The Editor:
In 19X0 Oregonians have a unique
opportunity to gain control over
their energy future. Already citizens
in fourteen Oregon counties have
placed measures on the November
ballot for form People's U tility
D istricts (PUDs) and start the
process o f replacing PGE and
PP&L. PUDs offer consumers local
control over energy decisions and
lower electric rates.
To provide renewable sources of
power for our new PUDs and assure
Oregonians a reliable supply o f safe
electrical energy, Oregonians for
U tility Reform, Sen Walt Brown,
Senator George W ingard, and
LWEB Commissioner John Bartels
have sponsored the “ Oregon
Renewable Energy Development
and Conservation Act o f 1980“
initiative petition. Petitions are now
available for signature gatherers
since the Oregon Supreme Court
rejected Pacific Power and Light’s
challenge of the ballot title.
I he renewable energy petition
will finally allow us to get the con
servation done and renewable
energy sources underway. The
initiative implements Oregon Con
stitutional A rticle X l-D to make
existing state bonding capacity
available for low-interest loans to
individuals, businesses, local
governments, and consumer-owned
u tilitie s to develop solar, wind,
geothermal, alcohol fuels, low-head
hydro, wood-waste, and conser
vation.
In 1980 Oregonians will be able to
vote on the "Oregon Model” o f
public power and renewable energy
newly,
every week now. As in Zimbabwe in
the latter stages o f the war, white
farmers are beginning to run away
and the regime is righteously angry.
LIBERIA: Over in M onrovia,
Liberia, one dictator W illiam R.
Tolbert woke up one recent morning
to discover his head was missing.
Under Tolbert and all his
predecessors, descendants o f former
slaves who went back to Africa to
settle, the wealth and power had
been controlled by less than five per
cent o f the population. The
m ajority, the indigenous people,
were excluded and their anger and
frustrations have been rising over
the years as times get rougher and
rougher.
April 11, Master Sgt. Samuel K.
Doe led a group o f junior officers,
stormed the presidential palace and
took over. In the fighting that en
sued, Tolbert, his son A.B ., who
was in line to succeed him were both
killed as were several o f his close
aides. Government o ffic ia l who
were arrested following the coup are
to stand tria l shortly. Doe has
vowed to stamp out corruption.
CHAD: The on again, o ff again
ceasefire in Chad seems to have
broken down for good this time.
The forces o f Defence M inister,
Hissein Habre seem determined to
fight it out to the finish against the
combined forces o f President
G oukuni Queddei and the other
members o f the “ u n ity” govern
ment. Meantime, southern leader
and
vice
president
Wadel
Kamougou has also entered the fray
against Habre. As the fighting rages
in the capital o f N ’ Djamena,
100,000 o f its residents have already
fled.
tty Charles Jordan
Commissioner o f Public Safety
I f you believe that you did not
violate any traffic laws when cited
by that police officer, go tell it to the
judge! Your failure to appear in
court or dispose o f that tra ffic
violation can be serious!
REMEMBER IH A I TINE YOU
WERE GOING TO PAY?
“ YOU FORGOT TO PAY
THAT FINE TOR A C IT A T IO N
wish to also express our ap
YOU RECEIVI D SIX MONTHS
preciation to the hundreds o f in
AGO. THEN, OF COURSE, YOU
dividuals and/or parents who have
FORGO I ABOUT THE COURT
given their time, money, and sup
D ATE, S IM P LY BECAUSE IT
port to the B.U.F. either publicly or
JUST D ID N ’ T S L IM T H A T
privately.
Also,
we
are
S ER IO U S.”
W ELL!
IT
IS
acknowledging the support given by
SERIOUS!
A tty. Derrick A. Bell, Jr., newly
A bench warrant has been issued
appointed Dean o f the University o f
for
your arrest and your driver’ s
Oregon School ot l aw; Mr. Herb
license has been suspended. This
Cawthorne, P.P.S. Board member,
warrant may be served at your home
and Mr. Lucius Hicks, III.
or your place o f employment.
Respectfully,
It you are stopped by an officer
under these circumstances it is very
Ron Herndon
serious! Even though you are stop
ped for a minor tra ffic violation,
Rev. John H Jackson
you must appear before a judge for
Co-Chairman, B.U.F.
the previous vio la tio n and your
failure to appear in court.
You will be asked to step out o f
your car and the officer will hand-
when we collect the necessary 55,(XX) cutl you. You will be searched and
signatures to place the “ Oregon
"taken into custody.”
Renewable Energy Development
REMEMBER IH A I FINE YOU
WERT GOING TO PAY?"
and Conservation A c t” on the
ballot. Write Oregonians for U tility
Reform, P.O. Box 12763, Salem,
Oregon 97309 for information and
petitions.
Sincerely
At this point, YOU ARE UNDER
ARREST.
The of ficer will have you sit in the
back seat ot the police car. You will
be driven to the Multnomah County
Booking Facility located at 1021
S.W. Fourth where County correc
tional officers will receive the Port
land City Police Report and take
you into their custody for booking.
The police officer is released o f
the responsibility for your custody
at this point.
W H A T IF I WAS STOPPED
W H IL E D R IV IN G ? C A N MY
CAR BE TOW ED? HO W DO I
FIN D IT AFTER MY RELEASE
FROM
TH E
M U LTN O M AH
COUNTY BOOKING FAC ILITY?
It there was a passenger in the car
at the time o f your arrest, that per
son, possessing a valid d riv e r’ s
license, may be allowed to drive
your car (with your permission) to a
place o f your choosing, if that auto
is not needed for police evidence.
Otherwise, upon your release
from custody, you should call the
Bureau ot Police A u to Records
Division at 248-5720. I f you car has
beeen towed, this division o f the
Police Bureau can direct you to its
location.
You will, have to pay, in cash, a
towing bill o f $31.45, plus a 55.00
per day storage fee if your car is im
pounded four hours or more. These
charges are due to increase July 30,
1980!
“ HOW DO 1 F IN D MY CAR
AFTER MY RELEASE FROM
THE M U L T N O M A H C O U N TY
BOOKING F A C ILIT Y ?”
If, in another example, your car is
illegally parked when towed, you
will be required to pay the fine in
addition to the tow ing b ill and
storage fee.
If you feel your car was towed in
error or the charges were excessive,
you can appeal to the City o f Port
land (either the A uto Records
Division or the Commissioner o f the
Office of Public Safety) to get reim
bursed tor the amount you paid to
recover your car.
IF I HAVE BEEN ARRESTED
BOOKED IN THE C O U N TY
F A C IL IT Y A N D T H E N IT IS
D E C ID E D T H A T 1 M UST BE
HELD A T THE COUNTY JA IL.
W H A I HAPPENS TO MY PER
SONAL PROPERTY? Can it be
seized?
Yes! If there is anything on your
person that the officer feels could be
used as evidence!
In this instance, the procedures
tor handling your personal property
are ditterent. I f you are interested,
join me next week!
PORTLAND OBSERVER
1 st Place
Community Service
ONPA 1973
day by Exie PuMshmg' C o m p a r . ^ n ^ ’^ o T N o r't'h V li'
David McTeague
290 18th St. NF.
Salem, Oregon 97301
P o la n d , Oregon 97217. Pos, OWce B o ^
97208 Second,,ass postage paid a, P o X o T o r e ^
'
S8 “ r
Folk Art exhibit wrong
To The Editor:
Society to set a "high prio rity" for a
A statement “ Black women in photo inventory o f individuals and
Oregon do not quilt...” appears in group quilts made by A fro -
the ethnic arts division o f the Americans who live in Oregon in
current Oregon Folk Art Exhibit at cluding accompanying photos o f
the Oregon Historical Society. Such persons.
information is scheduled to travel to
My we expect a future exhibit
other points in the United States.
postscript "Get It Right?”
It would appear that tax-
Sincerely,
supported agencies and endowments
would NOT knowingly assent to be
Mrs. OslyJ. Gates
captive or accomplice to “ irrespon
sible" distortion.
CC: Execu,ive D irector, Oregon
I challenge the Oregon Historical Historical Society
affair.
SOUTH A FR IC A : The shock
waves from the people’ s victory in
Zimbabwe have not yet settled in
this racist nation. The fa llo u t is
being felt in various forms: some of
the politicians and pro-government
papers are calling for dialogue with
the real leaders o f the A frica n
people, the ones the government
labels “ radicals" and not the “ uncle
Toms” that the regime has dealt
with all along.
The level o f g u e rrilla a c tivity
w ith in South A fric a has also
escalated d ra m a tica lly since the
beginning o f the year. January 25
saw three brothers take over a bank,
hold 25 whites hostage and demand
the release of an ANC leader Nelson
Mandela. A fter a gun battle with
police, the three guerrillas, armed
with AK-47 rifles were killed. Two
of the hostages were also killed and
eleven were wounded.
A police station was attacked with
rocket propelled grenades. Two
policemen were killed and several
others wounded. The guerrillas
escaped and have never been found.
The police station was located in the
heart o f Johannesburg.
The people have organized several
highly successful Heroes Days for
their comrades who fell in combat.
The funerals fo r some o f these
guerrillas were attended by more
than 30,000 people. Also, despite
the supression o f free speech, a
petition to free Nelson Mandela has
so far been signed by almost 50,000
people. Out in the country, whites
believe the civil war is already under
way. Incidents o f clashes and at
tacks on settler targets in the
Messina area and other areas o f
northern Transvaal bordering on
Zim babwe are being reported
Notes from City Hall
Letters to the Editor
An open letter from BUF
The
democratically elected government
o f comrade Robert Mugabe is
moving swiftly to return the country
to norm alcy. The one m illio n
refugees who had tied the country
side and set up squatter camps out
side Harare ( “ S alisbury” ) have
begun to move back to their homes
even before the government has
stepped in to help. The In te r
national Red Cross is coordinating
efforts to move them.
The government is also moving
swiftly to dismantle Smith’s concen
tra tio n
camps
( “ protected”
villages’ ), which at the height o f the
war housed more than half a million
Blacks. One o f the most significant
changes has taken place in the press
o f Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe
Broadcasting C o rp o ra tio , ZEC,
(radio TV), the Zimbabwe Herald
and The Bulawayo Chronicle, the
two major dailies all o f which up
until two months ago used to be
mere extensions o f the South
African press, now sound more like
the press ot free Africa. No longer
do they only feature Blacks when
they have been arrested fo r
something. It is now dominated by
stories o f Blacks being promoted to
all kinds o f positions, efforts being
taken by southern A frica’ s free state
to develop and reduce dependence
on South Africa. For the first time
in its history, the press o f Zimbabwe
is actually attacking South Africa.
Here in Portland, the celebration
tor Zimbabwe’ s independence was a
major success. It was a most in
spiring evening to see that many
people come together to celebrate
the happy event. Except for one
drunken fool who caused a few
problems as the party was winding
down, it was truly a “ comradely”
1 st Place
Best Ad Results
ONPA 1973
-
the Por/ZandO forner, P 0 Box 3137. Portland O -e g o n ^ T x « ' °
° P 'n 'o n o t the . n
d ^ a T
; ; ^ ; ^ ^ ^
’^ n ' T
senty reflect the opinion of the / - „ m ^ i l ^ e r
5th Place
Best Editorial
ONPA 1973
"
neC9S
Honorable Mention
Herrick Editorial Avvard
NNA 1973
283 2486
ALFRED L. HENDERSON
Editor/Publisher
.
N ational A dvertieing R epresentative
A m a lg a m a te d Publishers. Inc
N ew Vorh
2nd Place
Best Editorial
3rd Place
Community Leadership
ONPA 1975
— M W
MfMBtR
N e N P A peh
A ssociation . fo u n d e d IM S
--
l ' " — ______
ASSOC l a t i o n
1
W
3rd Place
Community Leadership
ONPA 1978