Page 2, Portland Observer, August 7, 1905
Urban Violence
EDITORIAL/OPINION
Survey indicates racism of Police
by Jerry Gamer
The recent survey by the Oregonian
Newspaper o f 220 police officers re
veals (he degree o f racism that is w ith
in the Portland Police Bureau C iti
zens o f Portland (especially Black c iti
zens who are victims o f racism)
should be concerned about the a tti
tude o f many officers in the Depart
ment.
Some o f the findings are not sur
prising. Tor example. 38 percent o f
the officers thought the firin g o f two
officers who sold the " D o n 't Choke
'Em. Smoke ’ E m " T-shirts had a neg
ative impact on police morale, 89.4
percent indicated that racial prejudice
is not a common attitude among the
Department staff. 25.4 percent stated
that to increase morale C hief H arring
ton should be replaced, and 62 per
cent thought the Department should
not offer training to increase the ra
cial sensitivity o f officers. Also, 43.1
percent agreed and 42.1 percent
strongly agreed that the use o f the
Carotid H old was justified in the
Stevenson case.
However, some findings from the
survey were quite surprising. Tor ex
ample, 74.7 percent o f the officers
thought the " D o n ’ t Choke ’ Em.
Smoke 'Em T-shirt incident was a
harmless prank that was blown out o f
proportion by the media, 90 percent
o f the officers agreed that Stan Pet
ers’ statements about recent events
were representative o f the feelings o f
police. 5.5 percent thought it was un-
fair and 5.0 percent thought it was
very unfair fo r the Grand Jury not to
indict in the Stevenson case, and 63.6
percent felt it was very unfair for
Chief H arrington to fire the tw o o ffi
cers who made the T-shirts.
—Overall, the survey indicates that
many male officers on the Police Bu
reau are racist. Over 85 percent o f the
officers agreed that the Carotid Hold
was justified in the Stevenson case. In
spite o f the fact that testimony during
the inquest proved that the force used
was excessive and unwarranted. ALso,
62 percent o f the officers stated the
Police Bureau should not offer train
ing to increase the racial sensitivity
o f officers.
—The killing o f Black citizen* by
the police is not important and should
not receive media coverage. Almost
98 percent o f the officers staled that
Stevenson would not have received as
much media atention if he had been
white. According to 38 percent, the
most negative impact on police moral
was the firing o f the two officers who
made the T-shirts. While only 12.8
percent thought Stevenson's death
made a negative impact on morale.
—Citizens do not have the right to
question the action o f police. Nearly
90 percent o f the respondents stated
they agreed with Stan Peters, Police
Union President, on his statements
about recent events. Besides the ac
tions o f those officers involved in
racist or criminal activities, Peters has
done more harm to the public image
o f police officers. Tor 90 percent o f
the officers to agree with Peters’ state
ments concerning recent events in the
C ity is an indication o f the serious
internal problem o f the Police Bu
reau’s rank and file officers. Peters
has repeatedly showed his dislike
towards Black community leaders,
Mayor Clark and Chief H arrington.
— There are few officers on the
force who don’ t agree with the ma
jo rity rank-and-file officers. For ex
ample. 10.5 percent o f the officers
though the Grand Jury’ s decision to
not indict in the Stevenson case was
unfair or very unfair. Also. 24.4 per
cent thought the Department should
offer training to increase the racial
sensitivity o f officers. Another 4.1
percent thought the firin g o f the two
officers in the T-shirt incident was in
order While 10.6 percent were sur
prised that the Grand Jury d id n 't in
dict any o f the officers involved in the
death o f Stevenson.
Although the last figures are small
in comparison, citizens o f Portland
should be glad to know there arc still
a few officers on the Bureau who arc
prolessonal and concerned about the
recent tragic events that have occurred
in the City. These officers realize
there arc serious problems between
tlic police and the community (espe-
lally the Black community), and w ith
in the Police Bureau itself. However,
judging from the police survey, these
problems w ill not disappear soon.
Ahtng the C o lo r L i n t by D r M anning Marable
On the night o f June 12, 1985, two
incidents occurred in New York which
represent the terror and tragedy o f
police and civilian racist violence.
At approximately 9:30 p.m ., a plain
clothes police officer shot and killed
a 17-year-old Black man in Manhat
tan’s Upper West Side. The while
officer, Lee Van Houton, claimed
that the victim and another compan
ion assaulted him in an attempted
robbery. After an investigation. Van
Houten was cleared.
But many disturbing questions
were left unanswered, the victim,
Edmund E. Perry, had graduated
only two weeks before the incident
from Phillips Exeter Academy. He
was employed a a Wall Street broker
age house this summer; this autumn
he was to begin college at Stanford
University. Perry had no criminal
record, had never used drugs, and was
"a very sensitive and endearing per
so n ," according to his teachers.
"W h y would a young Black man on
his way up attempt to rob anyone?"
asked attorney C. Vernon Mason,
shortly after Perry’s death. "B u t if he
did, why was deadly force used to
stop a 17-year-old with no criminal
record and no weapon?”
One hour later, four Black youth
between the ages o f 14 to 18 entered
a small B nxiklyn grocery store. None
were armed, but one teenager was
drinking a bottle o f soda which he
liad brought from home. The store-
owner, A ll Nagi, demanded to know
which o f the youths intended to pay
for the drink W hen none o f the teen
agers agreed to do so, Nagi pulled a
by Steven Bailey, N D. and
To the Editor,
On Tuesday, August 13, voters
have a chance to pass a three-year
aerial levy for Portland Community
College. Die college needs the addi
tional three and a half m illion to con
tinue operating classes at the same
level and to repair buildings.
In addition to more than 80 voca
tional programs and classes that
transfer to other colleges and univer
sities, Portland Community College
teaches basic classes fo r people who
didn't finish high school or d idn't
really learn how to read.
The additional S3.5 m illion each
year w ill cost an average homeowner
(with a $60,000 home) $3.55 a month.
W ithout the additional dollars the
college w ill need to cut more than
400 classes. Many o f these w ill be eve
ning classes and support fo r students,
such as jo b placement and child care.
Please go vote "y e s " on the P ort
land Com m unity College levy Au
gust 13.
DR H O H A R D C H ERR Y
To the Editor.
I would like to correct several mis
leading or incorrect statements made
in your July 17 article. "Repression
o f Talashas in Israel."
Contrary to the article's introduc
tion, the Israeli government began
aiding the black Jews o f Ethiopia
(Talashas) in 1977 (N Y Times, 1-4-85)
— not. as you reported, "o n ly re
cently.” The aid, however, was ham
pered by the lack o f diplomatic rela-
tioiis w ith Israel forced on African
nations by the Arab oil boycott o f
1973. It was only in the midst o f mas
sive starvation that Sudan agreed to
allow Israel planes to land, to aid in
the humanitarian evacuation o f the
remaining Talashas
The article’s initial claim — that
Talashas are being discriminated
against because they must undergo a
symbolic conversion to Judaism — is
also wrong. Talashas are fu ll Jews, as
recently reaffirm ed by both chief
Rabbis o f Israel ( A T T 7-23). No such
symbolic conversion is necessary
The article’s assertion that Talashas
have been confined to "reabss rption
centers” (actually absorption centers),
and receive “ no type o f preparation
for entering into Israeli life " is clearly
incorrect to anyone who knows any
thing about Israel or the amount o f
mobilized support for the Talashas.
Absorption centers are not for "c o n
finem ent;" rather, it is at such centers
where new immigrants (o/i/n) — both
black and white — arc given medical
care and where other basic human
needs are met. Tor most o f the Ta
lashas, it is the first such care they
have ever received. It is where they
will learn a trade from classes spoil
sored by OR T (Organization for Re
habilitation through Training), or any
o f (he two dozens o f job centers or
government classes easing Talashas
into Israeli life. Here again, the a rti
cle’s claim is wholly inaccurate.
A t least part o f the article's prob
lem is that it d idn't name a single
source. Not one! The article instead
bases its "re p o rtin g " on “ more and
more newspaper accounts" — which
is not exactly a bedrock o f documen
tation. In addition, the article is a
translation from a Mexican (!) news
paper which d idn't even do its own
reporting! This is hearsay and ex
tremely poor journalism.
Despite these difficulties, however,
the article raises several issues which
arc problematic and deserve to be
discussed.
The controversy over whether to
settle Talashas on the West Bank is
clearly o f primary importance. Polls
indicate that most Israelis oppose
such Talasha settlements pending
direct negotiations between Israel and
Jordanians/Palcstimans. Many Israe
lis in the government similarly sup
port such a moratorium and efforts
should bed made to bolster that sup
port.
The article also mentions a March
9th incident at the W ailing Wall
where Talashas were repelled by
"g u a rd s." In fact, the Talashas were
pushed back by members o f Neuterei
Karta, an untra-orthodox group of
Jewish zealots. Fortunately, most
Israelis reject the Neuterei Karta — as
all communities should reject their
own religious extremists.
A ll o f this is not to say that inte
grating Talashas into Israeli life will
be easy. However, these problems are
considerably different and more com
plex than the simple image o f "re
pression" promoted in your headline.
The reality exists that both racism
and anti-Semitism must be dealt with
whereve they occur; at the same
time, righteousness and true acts of
compassion and charity should also
be recognized Israel has aided those
suffering from Ethiopian starvation
and oppression in a way that can
serve as a moral model for the rest of
the world. Tactually incorrect and
misleading articles such as the one
you printed only serve to obscure
that vision.
MARC LO H EN TH AL
men were finally forced to resign
In Portland, Oregon, last A p ril, a
31 sear old Black man, Lloyd D.
Stevenson, Jr., as killed in a scuffle
with two officers. One policeman had
applied a “ sleeper" hold to Steven
son, and blood to the brain was cut
o ff. When Portland Police Chief
Penny E. Harrington banned the
"sleeper,” two outraged officers
prepared and distributed T-shirts with
the logo, “ D on't Choke ’ Em, Smoke
’ Em .” Given this kind o f police re
action, it is not surprising that store-
owners in urban areas may acquire a
Bernard Goetz mentality — “ smoke
'em ,” shoot first and ask questions
later A grand jury refused to indict
the officers who killed Stevenson, but
his family is currently suing the city
for $15 million.
Poverty,
unemployment,
poor
schools, drugs and the breakdown o f
neighborhood and cultural institu
tions are the root causes o f street
crime. If we spent $30 billion on jobs
and schixils instead o f the M -X mis
sile and other weapons systems, we'd
cut urban violence significantly. But
we must also support the creation o f
tough civilian controls over the po
lice; the establishment o f residency
requirements for police; the introduc
tion o f more women and minorities
into the ranks and leadership; and
the use o f citizen’s commissions and
special prosecutors' offices to check
police violence.
Dr. Manning Marable teaches p o
litical sociology at Colgate Univer
sity. Ham ilton, N. T.
Elealthwatch
Letters to the Editor
The Observer welcomes tellers to the editor, t ellers should be typed o r neat
ly printed and signed wdh the author's name and address taddresses are not
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P O . Box 3137. Portland. OR 9720ft.
gun from behind the counter. Two
teenagers directly in front o f Nagi
were shot and killed instantly. The
storeowner then leaped from the
counter to chase the other teenagers.
One youth was killed, and the fourth
wounded Neighbors informed police
that the young Black men were not
"troublem akers." But now three are
dead over a 65 cent soft drink
What creates police and civilian
violence? The Reaganites and law-
and-order addicts claim that the po
lice simply require a freer hand to
check urban violence against individ
uals and property. Certainly the Black
community, as a whole, is unsympa
thetic to rapists, vandals, burglars,
and other criminals who prey on the
poor and working people. But the
distinction between fair law enforce
ment vs. excessive force is frequently
blurred, and often totally forgotten.
In New York City last year, about
6,700 complaints against police ex
cessive force were filed, 10 percent
more than in 1983. f ive officers were
forced to resign several weeks ago
for beating and assaulting suspect
with an electric stun gun.
But these problems aren't confined
to New York ( ity. In San Trancisco
last year there were approximately
2,300 civilian complaints against the
police The city pays over $1 m illion
per year in claims against the police.
In one outrageous recent incident, for
example, tw o officers claims that a
man on a bus made an obscene finger
gesture at them. The police ran onto
tlie bus, dragged the man into the
street, and beat him. The two police-
la s t week I began this article on
natural childbirth and the Oregon
Gentle Birthing Project workshop by
Michel Odent, M D Today I will
concentrate on the philosophy and
practice o f Dr. Odent
Dr. Odent, presently on a world
speaking tour and sabbatical, has de
livered thousands o f babies in as nat
ural settings as possible. While he
delivers the babies in a state hospital,
he has done much to influence this en
vironment to favor a relaxed expe
rience.
There arc many differences from
the “ n o rm a l" hospital birth that
can be expected at Pithivier hospital
From the initial visit the mothers
know that their birth will not include
drug unless absolutely necessary (i.c.
" C " section). The entire process w ill
emphasize healthy and relaxed a tti
tude both for the expectant mother
and throughout the birth team. The
colors o f the walls are earth brown
and cream, the lights in non-surgical
rooms are less intense and may dim
to complete darkness as per the m oth
er's wants. A hot tub is available to
help relaxation and case discomfort
during early labor.
The
entire
environment
em
braces Dr. Odent’s understanding o f
a gentle and healthy birth space. A d
ditional stress, stimulation and/or
interference by the birth team w ill,
according to Odent, interfere with the
hormonal and protaglandin secre
tion which help read the mother's
uterus and birth canal for delivery.
His practice is one that assumes a
liealthy birth w ill occur, until it be
comes obvious that intervention is
necessary.
Dr. Odent said in his recent P ort
land workshop: "W h a t they leach in
med school is not im portant,” as it
changes yearly. He writes in his book,
Birth Reborn:
The medical establishment repeat-
edlv cites the "risk fa c to r " — the
legitimate concern f o r the safety o f
mother and child — to ju s tify the
wholesale "m edicalization" o f the
birth process and to discredit all alter
natives, whether home births, b irth
ing centers outside the hospital, or in-
hospital maternity units such as Puhi-
vjers. But it is not at all clear that this
approach — which involves the wide
spread use o f sedatives, a rtificia l hor
mones to stimulate labor, epidurals
and other anesthesia, forceps, and
the daily performance o f caesareans
has lowered the "nsk factor, ” since
much o f this medical intervention
actually introduces new risks More
over, this emphasis on high-nsk cases
poorly serves the interests o f the vast
m ajority o f women, who hase "n o r
Adam I add. N. D
m a l" pregnancies and deliveries
Unfortunately, most doctors are fa r
more interested in sickness than in
health Thev assume that good health
is merely the absence o f illness. -Is a
result, doctors and medical students
frequently address obstetrics only as
* it pertains to pathology, thev spend
most o f their time preparing fo r all
the aw ful things that could go wrong
during pregnancy anil childbirth
Students learn a ll about placenta
/irevia and acute toxemia, but bv the
time they are doctors, thev hase
learned little about the physiology o f
normal labor and are ignorant o f the
perfectly common factors which
might m odify the process without
being cause fo r alarm or intervention
The end result is that b irth itself,
every both, <s seen as a potential
problem
While Dr. Oden does perform
“ C ” sections when needed, his hos
pital's rate o f under 7 percent o f total
births is around one-third the U.S.
average. Other areas o f medical inter
vention are even more remarkably
diminished: episiotomies arc rare
(vs 90 + percent o f U.S. deliveries)
and forceps have not been used at
Pithiviers since 1963. forceps, which,
he writes, "belong in museums” are
basic to the practice o f having a wo
man lie supine (on her back) rather
than in more natural equating or
supported position.
The filia l unique aspect o f Dr.
Odem's practice is his pre natal pro
gram. Unlike current concepts ol
pre-natal care. Dr. (Went minimally
emphasizes lab work, and shows a
nearly complete disinterest in n u tri
tion. The primary pre-natal program
is the weekly singing session in which
expectant mothers and fathers sing
and interact with other parents, young
children, grandparents, etc., in a
session designed to broaden the “ nu
clear fa m ily " and encourage the real
ity, as shared by his fam ily fam ily,
that birth can be a natural, healthy
experience.
Next week: A local m idwife's view
Vote YES
PCC 3-year
Serial Levy
August 13
Measure Number 26-1
Jimmy Smith Boycott called off
Portlanders Organized for Sou
thern African freedom (POSAT)
called o ff its cultural boycott o f jazz
organist Jimmy Smith after receiving
an eleventh hour communique staling
Mr. Smith had been removed from
the cultural boycott list, a representa
tive for l ‘< )S A I s.mi
The United
Nations’
Centre
Against Apartheid informed POSAT
that M r. Smith's name had been re
moved from the register but the U.N.
had made a mistake and had not
placed his name on the list o f those
pledged not to perform in South A f
rica, POSAF said
Furthermore, POSAT said, "S m ith
is now involved with Artists and A th
letes Against Apartheid in trying to
convince others to apologize and not
perform there again."
POSAF said the organization was
sorry the mistake had occurred.
_____
point.
Portland Observer
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