Portland Observer August 21, ISSO Page 3
Recall debate raises tempers
By N yew usi A skari
While many area residents were
busy settling and shaking o ff the
rigors o f the day, representatives
from the Black U nited F ront,
Citizens For A Responsible School
Board, Citizens For Com m unity
Unity and the Northeast community
were meeting at King Neighborhood
F a cility , in an e ffo rt to fu rth e r
c la rify their positions on issues
surrounding the recall campaign,
the present boycott o f the Lloyd
C orporation, and the threatened
Sept. 2, boycott of Portland Public
School District No. 1. When the
smoke cleared Monday night, it was
evident that Portland is in for a long
season of unpredictable turmoil.
Each representative were allowed
ten minutes to express its
organization's position, followed by
informal questioning by members of
the audience. Two minutes each
were given for closing remarks
First to speak, and representing
the Citizens For A Responsible
School Board, was Evie Crowell.
Ironically, Hal Hart, co-chairperson
o f the committee, was present but
refused to participate, even after
being asked by members o f the
Black community. “ I feel we are
adequately represented,” he said.
Ronnie Herndon, co-chairman of
the Black United F ront and its ’
representative at the forum, respon
ded: ‘ ‘ Its’ an insult to the Black
com m unity that M r. H art is
refusing to defend his committee’ s
position. He has done it all over
town, on T.V., and other forums,
yet when it comes to the Black
community, he chooses to front Ms.
Crowell as his mouth piece. As far
as I know, Ms. Crowell has never
represented the Recall committee
anywhere before, u n til to n ig h t.
Again, we ask Mr. Hart to step for
ward and defend their position.”
Hart did not respond, even to the
boos and repeated urging from
members o f the audience. Visibly
shaken, Ms. Crowell proceeded to
briefly outline some o f her commit
tee’s reasons for wanting Newhall,
Caw thorne, Buel and Priestley
removed from the board:
• irre s p o n s ib ility in decision
making.
• reckless conduct
• lacking qualities o f good
judgment and,
• jeopardizing the s ta b ility o f
Portland School System.
When questioned about her per
sonal involvement with the Recall
committee, Ms. Crowell said she
was acting as a private citizen and a
concerned parent. ” 1 feel that the
manner in which Dr. Blanchard was
removed, showed im m a tu rity o f
judgm ent,” she said. Her answer
sparked heated comments from the
audience, some posing serious
questions about her performance as
a former school board member. It
was pointed out that only once,
while serving on the school board,
did she cast a vote favorable to
changing the conditions o f Black
children in the school system. She
was also questioned about her lack
Black United Front co-chairm en Ron Herndon
and Rev. John Jackson m eet w ith IR to LI M iriam
Lawson of the D epartm ent of Justice, Com m unity
R e la tio n s S e rv ic e (C R S I. W a s h in g to n . D C ..
Robert Hughes, m ediator CRS. and John M athis.
Black United Front pickets Lloyd Center, asking supporters not to
spend their money. Lloyd Corporation vice president Bob Cameron is
active in school board recall m ovem ent.
(Photo: Richard Brown)
of
concern
fo r
"Q u a lity
Education" for Black children past
and present.
Ms. Crowell defined the Recall
committee as “ a broad based com
mittee o f concerned citizens; long
term residents w ith a sense o f
responsibility.”
Ronnie Herndon, in explaining
the Black United F ront’ s position
said, " I ’ m sorry, that in this day
and tim e, to hear someone talk
about how sad it is to see Robert
Blanchard go, given the harm he did
to a generation of black children.”
• desegregation plan — bussed
Black children out o f their com
m u nity, but never m a ndatorily
bussed one white child
• early childhood centers --
almost 69% white in lower grades
• few Blacks hired in the school
system
• three (3) times as many Black
students suspended three (3) years in
a row
• curriculum - a joke to say the
least.
"The Black United Front entered
the Recall reluctantly. We feel it is a
waste o f taxpayers money. We also
feel that dissatisfaction with school
board members should be settled at
the polls, however, we will not call
o ff our recall campaign. In the first
place, the recall committee gives no
indication that it is willing to drop
its recall. I f we called o ff our recall,
or i f the recall o f the four school
board members is successful, what
we’ll have is three board members
Doing her th e re to ineure ehe w ill be able to get a "Q u ality
Education," Morezeta Baker gives a flyer encouraging the boycott of
Lloyd Center to Saturday shopper as Janet Hiner looks on.
(Photo: Richard J. Brown)
who don’ t really care about Black
children given the policies, practices
and votes they have cast during the
tenure on the B oard,” Herndon
said.
Paul M illiu s , representing the
C itizens fo r C om m unity U n ity ,
called on both the Black United
Front and the recall committee to
drop their recall campaigns. "T he
most pressing need is not mass
disruption o f the Board, but the
creation o f a climate of decision of
plans and programs that meet the
challenge of the 80s,” he said.
This committee fears a division of
communities if the recall campaigns
continue. It proposes that the Black
United Front and the recall commit-
mittee work together to solve the
problems, thus allowing other issues
of importance to become part o f the
problem solving e ffo rt. Some o f
those issues outlined were:
• decling revenues
• staff changes
• shrinking student population
• program involvements
• school closures
"W e want to prom ote an on
going dialogue within the Portland
com m unity to id e n tify these
problems and come up w ith a
creative solution for them.
“ We are firm ly opposed to both
recalls o f school board members
that are now under way. We are
asking both sides to cool it, to turn
down the rhetoric, to turn in recall
petitions, unsigned o f course. For
those who are critical o f the school
board, we say, watch them closely,
call them to task, but also ask to
help. D on't sign...servel” he urged.
The feeling o f the community was
best reflected in a comment made by
a Black woman, who recently
moved to Portland from Chicago.
"W h a t these powerful people are
failing to realize is, no matter how
much money they have to throw
around, no matter how successful
their recall is or isn’ t, it all boils
down to the children. W ith o u t
children there can be no school
board, nothing. Both w hite and
Black parents know this, and I ’ m
sure, as both concerned parents and
citizens, we shall keep our children
out o f this school system, until the
real issues are resolved to the com
m unity’ s satisfaction. W ithout the
children, this system cannot func
tio n ,” she concluded.
WANTED
P e rso n s
and
organizations who
can v o lu n te e r
tim e ,
space,
m aterials, tra n
sportation.
Call 288-6700
conciliator CRS. both of Seattle Region 10. discuss
how the Justice Department might be helpful In
preventing com m unity disruption and conflict
during the proposed school boycott.
(Photo: Richard J. Brown)
Albina ministers oppose recalls
The follow ing is a statem ent
of Reverend G arlin g to n. c h a ir
m an o f the A lb in a M in is te ria l
Alliance:
A fte r careful deliberation and
consideration it is the position o f the
Albinia Ministerial Alliance not to
support any recall effort sponsored
by local community groups.
We therefore call upon the com
mittee fo r a responsible School
board to discontinue their recall ef
forts. I f they do so we have been
assured that the Black United Front
and their supporters will drop their
action.
The recall was not designed as a
tool ol use when citizens disagree
with an elected public body. It is
clear, that such disagreements
should be addressed at the polls. It
is a proper use, it would seem, if a
public body has violated the law, or
deliberately and w illfu lly violated
board policy or acted in gross
misconduct.
Neither this Board nor any future
Board should be made to function
under threat o f recall for every con
troversial decision. The Democratic
process provides for differences o f
opinion, but let us disagree without
being disagreeable.
Because o f the extremely divisive
potential of any recall not rooted in
genuine m isconduct, it is the
position o f the Albina Ministerial
Alliance not to support any recall
effort.
We all upon our fellow clergyman
and brothers and sisters o f goodwill
throughout the Rose City to join
hands o f reconciliation.
Good education predicated upon
a basis o f equity for both Black and
white children is a concern not only
to those o f us who are Black, many
o f our white fellow citizens have
spent
hours addressing the
inequities of our system. In a school
system that treats all races fa irly
everyone wins.
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