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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 19, 1981)
k U n!v ty o f c ■ j- For the children o f Atlanta and fo r all children who are hungry, suffer and live in fear. Ten percent of children born in 1979 are dead Ten percent o f the 122 m illio n children born in 1979 are now dead, according to the W orld Report on children published by the Latin Am erican regional o ffic e o f UNESCO. Most o f these children come fro m fam ilies in abject poverty. T h irty percent o f the children born in 1979 will be dead before age five: only ten percent w ill ever see a health w orker or be vaccinated against disease; and half will remain iliterate. According to projections made on current economic trends and p o litic a l policies, the number o f people in abject poverty w ill in crease by the year 2000. The world's economic inequa lity w ill be even greater 20 years from now. I hose living in the poorer areas o f South east Asia and A frica w ill be worse off. U N IC E F pointed out that the growing number o f children be tween ages 6 and 11 makes it nearly impossible for developing countries to provide education even to the fo u rth grade. Yet literacy is a necessary investment since persons w ith even four years o f education are far more productive than those who are iliterate. The amount o f money U N IC EF estimates to be necessary to do away w ith the worse effects o f abject poverty between now and the year 2000 is approxim ately $12 to $20 b illio n annually. Changes in distribution are also necessary since only half o f the current aid is going to the poorest countries. As the report points o u t, this equals what the w o rld ’ s nations spend every three weeks on ara- ments. In its general conclusion U N IC L ' expresses its desire to work with all governments to prove that the present trends can be changed, to foster progress in the poorest coun tries, and to eradicate the worse ef fects o f mass poverty by 2000. PORTLAND OBSERVER U S PS 9?9-680-855 == Black journalists explore issues By Gregory L. Gudger “ W ith Blacks facing bleak economic prospects under the austere policies proposed by the Reagan A d m in is tra tio n , Black journalists must play a pivotal role in helping Black America maintain its equilibrium and keep its hopes alive,” said Bob Reid, President o f the National Association o f Black Journalists (NABS) in the opening session of the NABJ Region X Con ference held in Seattle, Washington, March 6-7, 1981. Reid implored Black newspeople to keep Black issues in the forefront o f the nation’ s consciousness and on the front pages o f the nation’s news outlet. “ We must be in c ite fu l, probing and a n a ly tic a l,” the second-year NABJ President said, adding “ ...W e must be advocates for our rights, for our cause and for our people.” Citing parallels between the status o f Black America in the early 60s and today, the 34-year-old senior producer fo r K N X T -T V in Los Angeles said that in both periods, there were “ ...not many protections for Black neople...not many programs, and not many hopes for B lacks,” including those seeking careers in journalism. U nder “ R e a g a n o m ic s ” diminishing federal support for, and active dism antling o f, equal education mandates and strategies, equal employment policies and programs, fair housing policies and programs, reflects a retrogression to the period when they d id n ’ t exist. “ For example, the things which made it possible tq get jobs...helped (us) move up in jobs is under assault...and may disappear under ’ Reagonomics;’ ” Reid continued. In conjunction with the impend ing deregulation o f the Federal Com m unications Commission - a disincentive to media for “ seeking out and reporting responsively” on Black issues — Reid said the diminishing priority o f EEO inhibits the growth o f the Black journalist com m unity, which has been a stagnant 6 ff/o o f the n a tio n ’ s total news force. The percent o f the editors is even smaller, said Reid, noting, “ Where we need the most p a rtic ip a tio n is where we are making the least progress. “ W ithout the ability to hire and fire, we are at the mercy o f others,” he said. The role o f Black professional organizations like the 5-year-old NABJ is crucial in p roviding a forum fo r Black newspeople to discuss the issues and promote ex cellence in coverage o f issues, em phasized. In ad d itio n to the opening session’ s topic, the Region X Con ference featured presentations on the demise o f a ffirm a tiv e action, and the nation’ s tightening economy by S p ru ill W hite o f the Seattle Urban League; a historical view o f Black upward m o b ility in the newsroom by W illia m H illia rd , Assistant Managing E d ito r o f the Portland Oregonian, and a spirited dialogue with veteran actor Yaphet Koto on the p light o f Blacks and other m inorities in Hollyw ood not getting enough leading roles, but usually ending up “ just happening to be there.” In an effort to provide incentives for both aspiring and working jour nalist, the NABJ will militate a new scholarship program and award for outstanding coverage o f Black issues. The NABJ also w ill continue its “ Journalist o f The Yea/ Award,” for overall contributions. The $ 1,000 scholarship award will be given annually to a student, at least one year into a collegiate jour nalism program, for writing a com petitively superior piece, o f 1,000 words o f less, on a Black journalist. Nominations must be submitted by the students’ advisor or dean. A n nouncements regarding the program are forthcoming. The NABJ awards fo r w orking jo u rn a lists w ill be given in five categories: TV, TV camera w ork, radio, print and print photo work. Entries may be either in d ivid u a l pieces or a series on a related sub ject. Entries fo r the 1981 awards, accompanied by a $20 entry fee, must be received by the appropriate NABJ judges by June 15. Only work that o rig in a lly appeared between May 15, 1980 and May 15, 1981, inclusive, is eligible fo r this year’s awards. More inform ation on the NABJ awards can be obtained by w riting Ben Johnson, D etroit Free Press, 321 W. Lafayette, D e tro it, M ichigan 48231 (and this newspaper.) School election draws lines By John Blank I f the issues in the coming school board election have yet to emerge clearly, the sides stand out more sharply than usual in elections. On one side, we have the downtown business establishment, represented by Beeman and G isvold; and the other, we have candidates - incum bents Sarah Newhall and Herb Caw thorne, and legislator Rick Bauman - who represent a trend of independence from and even op- position to the big business which dominate Oregon’s political life. W hile coroprate figures on the school board over the past decade - men like Robert Ridgley and Jonathan Newman, lawyers from whose law firm s represent such clients as PGE, P P & L, Exxon, Safeway, Fred Meyer, U.S. Ban corp, Equitable Savings & Loan, Tektronix, Standard Insurance and many others - may legitim ately profess in d ivid u a l concern over many different issues in education, and may disagree on any number of them, yet the business community as a whole has three, more general, in terest in the school board which it needs spokesmen to look out for. A nalysis No it s not an illu s io n ...it’s truel This home on Broadway Drive received an extra lawn sign - smack dab in front of the one they had accepted from Newhali volunteers. Complaints have been received that Beeman signs are springing up in the northeast com m unity w ithout permission of residents, and mysteriously usually appear next to a Cawthorne or Newhall sign. Ms. Beeman is opposing Sarah Newhall for a seat on the Portland School Board. (Photo: Richard J. Brown) First o f all, the board is an impor tant political base for business in terest. It is a place where political careerists can prove their worth to the establishment, get experience in public affairs, and gain corporate backing for careers in other areas of City, County and State government. Secondly, it must not be overlooked that the school system is a powerful propaganda apparatus, and that the business com m unity has a strong interest in slanting that propaganda in its favor. This is not the place to detail the pro-business bias in standard curricula. Suffice it so say that the dark side o f business, its violently, hostile attitude towards the working people o f this country, towards our national minorities and towards the peoples o f other lands, is generally hidden. Nor is this the place to discuss the destructively negative self-image promulgated o f (Please turn to Page 9 Col 3) Dead possums - not a prank by high school students; but harassment by Portland's men in Blue From coons to 'possums Last Thursday night at ap proximately 10:00 p.m ., five Port land Police Bureau cars, containing ten Portland police officers, con verged on a small Black owned restaurant on Northeast U nion Avenue. “ It just happened that my son was in the backyard and some five police cars drove up and backed into the wall in a row, facing outward. He wondered what they were up to - i f they were going to make a raid - so he stayed in the dark and watch ed,” George Powe, owner o f Burger Barn told the Observer. Four dead possums were removed from the trunks o f three cars and seven o fficers took them to the sidewalk and placed them in front o f the restaurant, he said. Three of the officers remained in their cars. This is only the last episode in a long chain o f harassment by a group o f police officers who work the four to twelve PM shift, he said. Powe recounts that in 1970 a police officer pulled an illegal raid on a business he owned at the time, charging him with illegal gambling. The case was subsequently thrown out o f court and the officer warned not to harass him. A pproxim ately a year ago the same officer made a habit o f going in to the Burger Barn restaurant, asking customers for I.D ., throwing open the restroom door to look in, etc. “ One night he came in, went over to a customer and demanded I.D ., threw open the restroom door, then came back and started to go behind the counter. I stopped him and asked what he was doing. He said he was looking fo r cups - that he heard I was selling liq u o r and was going to smell the cups. I told him to get out. He turned and said, *1 do what I want td do.’ ” Powe saw Commissioner Jordan a few days later and told him about the harassment. “ Jordan said he would come by the place and he did. He came and had dinner, and when I explained what had been hap pening he said it would stop.” The officer did not reappear for several m onths, but about fo u r months ago he walked in, looked around, and shoved open the john door. Powe asked what he was looking fo r, and as he was leaving he turned and said, “ I ’ m going to get you yet.” Since then there has been con tinuous harassment by the a fte r noon shift. According to Powe they come in several times a night, ask customers fo r I.D ., and look around. A customer was handcuffed by this officer, and taken out, charged w ith d rivin g w ith a suspended license. The customer claim ed he had permission to drive during the day and that he was not driving (hat day. Another time a woman was using the phone and an officer came in, took her purse and dumped its con tents on a table. Then he discovered she was not who he thought she was and apologized. A w hite customer said he was follow ed as he left the restaurant and was stopped several blocks away. The officers asked him where he had been, and when he said they knew because they had follow ed him , he was advised to stay awhy from the restaurant. He was given a ticket because he didn’t have an in surance card in his car, but it was thrown out o f court. Another customer told Powe he was stopped for a driving violation. He sells small bottles o f liquor and claims that he was told by the police officer who stopped him that i f he would say they belonged to Powe, he would let him go. He refused. Powe considers the possum in cident ju st part o f the same problem . “ They d id n ’ t th in k anyone would know,” he explained. “ They thought I w ould just pick them up and throw them away.” However, Powe called K A T U . When the TV crew arrived, the public gathered. There were people standing on both sides o f the street, cars d riv in g by and cars double parked. “ But no police came. For over an hour no police came near. Usually they are up and down the street, but none came by. Then after midnight, a partol car drove by but did not stop. “ U sually they are in and out several times between 4 and 10, but no police have been in since that n ig h t," he said. Powe added that the harassment has been only from the 4-10 shift, the one worked by the o ffic e r believed perpetuated the series o f incidents. “ The officers on the shift beginning at midnight drop in usually once every night or so, but they are p o lite and frie n d ly. They have an entirely different at titude.” On Saturday fo llo w in g the possum incident, Powe met Com missioner Jordan and advised him that he had witnesses, names o f the o fficers involved and pictures. “ That night on the news, they said two officers had just admitted they were involved.” The Police Bureau reports that two officers said they had run over the possums in an alley, had put them in their car, and then called other police officers and asked them to come to the Burger Barn where they placed the possums near the restaurant. Powe challenges the story, saying that the anim als were brought in three cars and ten officers were in volved. Commissioner Jordan inform ed the Observer that the Police Bureau is investigating the possum incident and when their recommendations (Please turn to Page6 Col I) Harmleaa craatura killad by on duty police officara to place in reataurant doorway.
