Pag« 2 Portland Observer M arch 20. 1881
EDITORIAL/OPINION
Time to take a stand
On March 13th uniformed, on-duty Portland
police officers killed four possums and threw
their dead bodies in front of a Biack-owned
restaurant. The restaurant owner reports this
was perpetrated by a group of officers who
have harassed him over a period of months.
Police brutality and harassment against
Portland citizens is not uncommon. Although
it has been prevelant, and perhaps more open
against Blacks, recent news series by KPTV
and the Willamette Week demonstrate that it
occurs all over the City, against all races of
people and that the Bureau is failing to deal
with it effectively.
With serious economic problems upon us -
both because of the economic crisis in this
country and because of the drastic budget
cuts proposed by the Reagan Administration --
racial violence is increasing and will continue
to increase. We cannot afford insensitivity,
brutality and incompetence by the police of
ficers we must depend on to protect us and
our communities.
A society must have confidence in its
government and its police force -- to know
that in times of crisis the police will use reason,
sensitivity and humanity in enforcing the laws
and in protecting our communities. The
"possum incident" -- together with continuing
police harassment and brutality against
Blacks, minority people and white people who
seem to be vulnerable -- prevent us from
having that confidence.
We call on Commissioner Jordan to:
1. Fire all officers involved in the "possum
incident".
2. Appoint a Citizens Police Review Board .
3. Carefully investigate the administration of
the Police Bureau with special attention to
supervision and training.
Efforts to deal effectively w ith police
problems, efforts to hire more Black and
minority officers, attempts to eliminate racism
and brutality, have been met with successful
opposition. Commissioner Jordan has stated
that there are "some bad cops” but has been
unable to get rid of them. One of the reasons
he points to is lack of community support.
The community has demonstrated its desire
that these police officers, and the thirty or so
"bad cops" on the force, be shown that their
behavior will no longer be tolerated.
□ Newhall, Bauman, Cawthorne
□ School Levy
The School District needs this levy to con
tin u e c u rre n t p ro g ra m s . Vote "Y e s " on
both the A and the B ballott. A server financial
crisis is upon us because of inflation, decrease
in state funds, and an expected 25 per cent or
larger cut in federal funds.
No lengthy discussion of the issue is
needed, although we have disagreements with
the allocation of funds and believe some
changes should be made, there is no question
about the need for the money.
If this nation refuses to provide for even the
minimal requirements of education for its
children, then all is lost.
To the Editor:
The Black Cultural Affairs Board
o f Portland State U niversity, is in
full agreement with the viewpoints
o f Bruce Broussard, e ditor and
publisher o f the Portland Observer.
and Ron Herndon, Co-chairman of
the Black United Front, when they
called for the firing of the police of
ficers involved in a form o f racial
harassment. When G overnor Vic
Atiyeh proposes legislation fo r
racial harassment here in the State
of Oregon, and police officers o f the
Portland Police Bureau consider it a
planation to be given, when an in
vestigation is now going on regard
ing officers in the Drug Detail
Department. How long must we, as
citizens o f P ortland, jiave to
listen to the many excuses given by
our city administrators? How long,
w ill it take before those acts o f
racism are corrected? How long,
w ill it be before the element o f
racism is erased in any form o f ac
tion here in the United States? How
long?
Respectfully,
Charles Flake, Coordinator
Black Cultural Affairs Board
I ’ m disturbed at the idea o f
paying taxes for our public servants
to "make sport” o f their profession
while at the same time causing suf
fering to a pa rticu la r species o f
wildlife which has no representation
in Portland (not even Audubon will
accept an injured oppossum at their
rehab center).
After all, Oregon is not Alabama
— or is it?
Let me know what I can do to
help your e ffo rts as a concerned
citizen.
Sincerely,
Sydney Hopper
Prays for justice
Possums abused
To the Editor:
I ’ m w riting this letter in support
o f your efforts with regard to the
oppossum - police incident as re.
ported in to d a y’ s issue o f the
Oregonian, p. C3.
My primary work is as a volunteer
to animal welfare - exploitation and
cruelty to domestic and w ild
animals; however, my overriding
concern is the welfare o f all living
beings; I have actively demonstrated
and disseminated inform ation with
regard to oppression o f women,
m in o rity races and the environ
ment.
To the editor:
1 want you to know I share in
your outrage related to the op
possum incident. I hope and pray
that justice is served with respect to
those responsible for this incident.
Yours sincerely,
Rev. Benjamin M. Paroulek
St. Andrew’ s Presbyterian Church
Not in the line of duty
To the Editor:
1 know it is dreadfully biased, but
I feel that if the free press can imply
and be truly free directly or indirec
tly to influence public opinion, I am
not violating that right either.
On another subject which the Ob
server covered extensively (the
Possum incident). H aving four
teenagers and being the Mary Pop-
pins o f my immediate neighborhood
deep in the inner city, 1 can attest to
the fact that most police o fficers
Not becoming to City
The recent incident where dead
possums appeared on the doorway
o f a local Black-owned restaurant
concerns me greatly and heightens
the concerns o f many o f our Black
citizens. It is not becoming to a City
with a reputation of the livability of
Portland. I join with others urging
that every e ffort be made to get to
the bottom o f what this incident is
all about.
In this time o f high inflation, high
□ Strachan -
City Council
Margaret Strachan has spent many years
working with neighborhood organizations on
neighborhood issues. She is very familiar with
the barriers facing citizens who would like to
effect city government. She has learned how
to cut through the red tape and make the
City's agencies work for the people.
Because of her relationship w ith neigh
borhood organizers in the North/Northeast
area and the mutual respect shown, we
believe Margaret Strachan would continue to
be attentive to the nees and concerns of our
community.
Ms. Strachan's interest in housing, citizens
participation, and economic development that
respects neighborhood integrity will benefit
our community and the City. Her concern for
human rights will insure her attention to the
human issues met in city government.
The Observer endorses Margaret Strachan
for City Council.
joke to lay down dead opossums
outside o f the Black owned
restaurant, there is no excuse that
can be accepted. When members o f
the public respect the police for the
employment they hold, and under
stand the d iffic u ltie s involved in
being a law enforcement officer, it is
totally unacceptable for any form o f
action that is disrespectful to the
citizens that pay their salaries.
There can be no excuse from
Commissioner Charles Jordan, or
C hief o f Police, Bruce Baker in
forms o f action by officers they em
ploy. It is not necessary for any ex-
pa tro lin g our area are good
professionals. However, there is no
doubt in my mind that too many o f
ficers cannot relate w ith urban
problems and the people (one is too
many).
First o f all, even though some
think possums are " f i l t y ” animals,
it is hard to believe that anyone
would intentionally run them over
with a car, never mind a police car.
That is not in the line of duty. When
M r. Jordan reported that he could
not get a handle on racist acts
because no one can get into peoples
minds - my personal response is that
perhaps he is spending too much
time with his feet on his office desk.
The quality o f every police officer
and the service mandated by the
department is the responsibility o f
the Com m issioner in charge! To
ignore that responsibility or treat it
lig h tly is an insult to the entire
community.
Fran A rineillo
unemployment and proposed cuts in
services to the Black community, we
cannot a ffo rd to be side-tracked
from making im portant economic
decisions - decisions that affect all
our communities. Black and white.
I think it ’s essential that all o f us
jo in w ith the Black com m unity in
putting the possum incident behind
us and getting on w ith the task o f
really building an economic future
fo r the fam ilies that make up this
community.
Congressman Ron Wyden
Portland Observer
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The Portland Observer was founded in October of 1970 by
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Bruce Broussard
Editor/Publisher
M IM M X
The Portland Observer is a champion of justice, equality and
liberation, ap alert guard against social evils, a thorough analyst
and critic of discriminatory practices and policies, a sentinal to
warn of impending and esisting racist trends and practices, and a
defender against persecution and oppresaion
The real problems of the minority population will be viewed and
presented from the perspective of their causality unrestrained and
chronoically entrenched racism. N ational and in ternation al
arrangements that prolong and increase the oppresaion of Third
World peoples shall be considered m the contest of their es
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Ms. Newhall, who has worked with youth
programs for many years, is especially
valuable to the board because of her credibility
among young people and her experience with
those youth who have difficulties with the
with the school system. She also is working to
establish closer ties between the school
district and youth serving agencies.
The Observer endorses Sarah Newhall for
School Board, Position 1.
The most difficult decision facing the voter
is the selection of the person to fill the position
being vacated by Wally Priestley. This person
will become the "swing vote" who can con
tinue the work of the "new board" or revert to
the "old board" domination.
We were very impressed w ith former
teacher Helen Mason, who expressed great
knowledge about education and the Portland
district, and who is an independent person
who would put educational issues first.
However, our choice is Rick Bauman.
Bauman would bring several needed attributes
to this position His natural inclination and his
political record indicate service to the people,
the children of the district, w ith o u t con
sideration of the benefits of serving the
establishment. He represents an area of the
city - Southeast Portland - that includes many
of the low-income and working class areas but
which has not had representation on the
School Board.
As a member of the Oregon House of
Representatives, Bauman understands the
political pressures of public office and would
not bow to them. As Chairman of the House
Education Committee he not only has gained
knowledge of school financing - one of the
major problems facing the district - and school
law, but he has established relations with the
education community.
We recommend Rick Bauman for election to
the School Board, Position 2.
Possum incident racial harassment
t
The March 31st School Board election is
crucial to the continuation of a new direction
of the School Board - a direction that
represents community concerns and needs.
With the election of Steve Buel to join Wally
Priestley on the Board, and the appointment
of Herb Cawthorne and Sarah Newhall, the
era of the rubber stamp "old board" ended
and a "new board" took over. With an open
process of com m unity discussion and
decision,
a new,
more
equitable,
desegregation plan was drawn, the superin
tendent was removed and the board took over
the policy making function that had been
reserved to the superintendent (with a little
help from his friends.)
For the first time the majority of the board
represents the interests of the parents and
children of the district, rather than the down
town business interests.
If this achievement is not to be lost, three
board positions are cruicial.
Herb Cawthorne, who was appointed to the
Board, has done a creditable job. In his first
public office he has worked hard, researched
areas of special interest such as student
discipline, and has spent long hours on behalf
of issues and individual students' problems. In
most cases he has stayed in touch with his
community, has sought and accepted coun
sel.
Coming on the board during the controver-
sity over desegregation - and as a result of that
controversy - Cawthorne has been most
closely identified with the issues related to
education of Black children. Although new to
the board, he found himself not only represen
ting Black demands but having to provide
leadership to the board in finding equitable
solutions.
Cawthorne has had criticism from the Black
community - including this newspaper - for
certain crucial votes and for his occasional
negligence in keeping his roots in the com
munity secure. However, he has met some of
the elements that could have weakened his
role head on - the Portland Association of
Teachers, for example - and has held his
ground.
We endorse Herb Cawthorne for election to
the School Board, Position 3.
Sarah Newhall was appointed to the School
Board and as she worked w ith the serious
issues confronting the board at the time, she
became philosophically aligned w ith Caw
thorne, Buel and Priestley, providing the
deciding vote for many of the desegregation
issues and for the termination of Superinten
dent Banchard. She is one who studies the
issues, takes her time, talks to the public, and
then votes according to her own perception of
the issues rather than according to pressure
politics.
She supported and worked to pass the
desegregation policies requested by the Black
United Front; she developed a new student
discipline policy to address disproportionate
Black suspensions. She is proposing a training
center to provide vocational/academic alter
natives for high school students.
Letters to the Editor
Honorable Mention
Herrick Editorial Award
NNA 1973
2nd Place
Beat Editorial
3rd Place
Community Leadership
ONPA 1976
3rd Place
Community Leadership
ONPA 1978
3rd Place
In depth coverage
ON PA 1979
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