P age B5 T he P ortland O bserver • A pril 06, 1994 A Civil Rights Agenda For The Nineties by M ary W endy R oberts Bias c rim e in Oregon was dow n N o r d o the bias crim e statis­ by h a lf last year, according to a report ju s t out fro m the state L a w E nforce­ tics te ll us about d is c r im in a t io n m ent D ata System (L E D S ). The sta­ tistic deserves careful scru tin y, espe­ that O regonians e x p e rie n c e in c ia lly by those concerned about c iv il housing, e m p lo y ­ ment, and p u b lic accom m odation. and hum an rig h ts . Does it mean that the w ar against hate crim es is o ve r and that we can stories broke about an armed assault on a Eugene synagogue and the v ic ­ to ry o f the O C A ’s latest anti-gay in i­ tia tive in elections up and dow n the W illa m e tte V a lle y. I d o n ’ t th in k so, and neither do m ost a ctivists. The facts in b rie f: L E D S tracks powered rifle s and a rm or-piercing shells. The sad fact is that the w ar isn ’ t over. Bureau o f Labor In 1990 I appointed the Oregon C o u n cil on C iv il R ights to provide a and In d u s trie s , w h ich is charged forum fo r discussion o f e m e rg in g c iv il rig h ts issues and to advise me on w hat w ith in v e s tig a t­ needs to be done. D u rin g the last tw o years we conducted c iv il rights fo ­ bias crim es in seven categories: po­ in g c iv il rig h ts litic a l b e lie f, race o r c o lo r, national o rig in , re lig io u s preference, sexual c o m p la in ts , has received 1,600 in o rie n ta tio n , handicap, and econom ic o r social status. In 1990, the firs t year th e f i r s t n in e months o f the cu r­ rent fiscal year, that such records w ere ke p t in O r­ egon, 343 w ere reported. In 1991, the rum s throughout the state, and on A p r il 7, we w ill decide on an action plan at an a ll-d a y conference in P o rt­ land. “ W e w ant to set specific goals fo r O regon, a c iv il and human rig h ts agenda fo r the 9 0 s,’ says co u n cil close to the record- setting pace o f the previous year, in ch a ir Rodney Page, w h o also directs which more than E cum enical M in is trie s o f O regon, cu rve ” o f lo ca l po lice , w ho have been instructed to be m ore conservative in tolerate hate crim e . A n d that resistance made a d if ­ ference. T o take ju s t one example, 2,400 complaints were filed. Allegations o f racial discrimination are actually up “ and that can o n ly be done success­ fu lly i f a true partnership exists be­ over the previous year. id e n tify in g bias crim es. T h e y also note that * 92 was an e lection year that E cu m e n ical M in is trie s o f O regon q u ie tly approached outdoor advertis­ L ik e hate c rim e , d is c rim in a tio n tw e e n g o v e rn m e n t and th e grassroots.” The C o u n cil is pushing an a m b i­ featured a d iv is iv e cam paign over B a llo t M easure 9, an a n ti-g a y rig h ts in itia tiv e sponsored by the O C A , and in g com panies about a n ti-C a th o lic nians continue to struggle fin a n c ia lly ads that had cropped up on b illb o a rd s as the state undergoes a p a in fu l eco­ in the M e d fo rd area. The ads, w hich n om ic restructuring. T hey are co n ­ that the Persian G u lf W a r fueled a nti- portrayed R om an C atholics as d e v il- A ra b incidents. I w o u ld suggest another reason fo r the decline: the courage O re g o n ’ s w orshippers and papists, q u ic k ly dis­ fronted by citizens w ho d iffe r in ap­ pearance o r custom s o r beliefs. A n d appeared. T h is is n o tim e to le t d o w n our regrettably, a few react in bigoted ways, bla m in g those w ho are d iffe r­ c iv il rig h ts defenders have show n, the fo rth rig h t denunciations o f b ig o try guard. F o r one th in g , bias c rim e sta­ tis tic s d o n ’ t te ll the w hole story. They ent fo r th e ir problem s. Scapegoatism has long h isto ry in fro m the p u lp it and the press, and the d o n ’ t te ll yo u about local c irc u m ­ O regon. It runs in cycles, and ju s t vigorous prosecution o f wrongdoers. In response to incidents such as the stances that m ay in h ib it the re p o rtin g o f such crim es. T he extent to w hich because it seems to be retreating one m om ent is no reason to th in k that fatal blu d ge o n in g o f an E th io p ia n citiz e n s are aware o f th e ir rig h ts and o f the remedies available to them have an w e’ re o u t o f the woods. O n the same day that L E D S re ­ and lib e rty o f every in d iv id u a l is re­ obvious bearing on the numbers. leased the latest bias crim e statistics, spected. num ber was 4 88; in 1992, it was 545. Suddenly in 1993 w e ’ re do w n to 279. W hy? L E D S o ffic ia ls attribute the d e cline in part to the “ learning student, la w -a b id in g O regonians sent a strong, clear signal that they w ill not Mary Wendy Roberts is a sign o f the tim es. M a n y O rego­ tious agenda that includes the devel­ opm ent o f human rig h ts com m issions in each county. Such groups w ould provide support to v ic tim s o f dis­ crim in a tio n and bias crim e at the local level, p ro vid in g the foundation fo r a statewide n e tw o rk o f human rig h ts organizations. C iv il rig h ts are never special. T hey are fo r the protection o f a ll. The C o u n c il’ s agenda o ffe rs the best in ­ surance O regonians co u ld have o f a future in w h ich the d ig n ity and w o rth William R. Wiley Named 1994 Black Engineer of The Year D r. W illia m R. W ile y , head o f B attelle M e m o ria l In s titu te ’ s P a cific sion has m ore than 4 ,4 0 0 research scientists, engineers, te ch n ician s and N o rth w e s t D iv is io n in R ic h la n d , W ash., has w on the p restigious B la ck support personnel. D r. W ile y has been a m em ber o f E ngineer o f the Y ear A w a rd , spon­ the Board o f Regents o f Gonzaga U n iv e rs ity in Spokane. L a te r, he was sored by US B lack E ngineer m aga­ zine. D r. W ile y stands firs t am ong 300 entrants in a co m p e titio n that annual ly brings ou t some o f the b rig h t­ named to the W ashington State H ig h e r E ducation C o o rd in a tin g B o a rd and helped put in place a u n ifo rm set o f est scientists and engineers, w o rk in g c rite ria fo r h ig h e r education in that at the fro n tie rs o f te ch n o lo g ica l de­ state. W ile y , a m em ber o f the B oard o f Regents o f W ash in g to n State U n i­ velopm ent. A panel o f in d u stry e x ­ perts, executives and academics co n ­ siders the subm issions, w h ic h are backed by recom m endations fro m candidates’ superiors, colleagues and, in the case o f Dr. W ilc y , House S pcaker T o m F o le y, Flo rid a A & M U n iv e rs ity President D oug Olcscn. A s D r. W ile y says, “ There is n o th in g m ore p o w e rfu l than the be­ lie f that you can personally con trib u te to m aking a belter fu tu re .” G ro w in g up in the S outh d u rin g the 1950s, his ve rs ity , was nam ed ch a irm a n in June 1993. In a d d itio n , he serves o n the Dr. William R. Wiley D r. W ile y jo in e d Battelle in 1965. F our years later, D r. W ile y was head o f the C e llu la r and M o le c u la r B io l­ ogy S ection, supervising 25 others. In 1972, D r. W ile y was prom oted to college choices were restricted. B u t a fo o tb a ll scholarship to M is s is s ip p i’ s a ll b lack T o ugaloo C o lle g e earned associate B io lo g y D epartm ent man­ h im a b a ch e lo r’ s, M agna C um Laude, in chem istry. A fte r A rm y service, he In 1979, D r. W ile y was name D ire c to r o f Research. F ive years later, he became D ire c to r o f B a ttc llc ’ s Pa­ c ific N o rth w e st D iv is io n and the Pa­ c ific N o rth w e st L a b o ra to ry, w hich took a m aster’ s in m ic ro b io lo g y at the U n iv e rs ity o f Illin o is -U rb a n a on a R o cke fe lle r Foundation scholarship. W ile y to o k his Ph.D. at W ashington state U n ive rsity. Tax Night Eastport Plaza Will Offer Special Tax Information, Materials, And Assistance On Friday, April 15 So ta x n ig h t is less ta x in g E astport Plaza w ill o ffe r special ser­ vice s in c lu d in g T a x In fo rm a tio n , M a te ria ls, and Assistance on F riday, A p r il 15 fro m 6 p.m . u n til m id n ig h t. The Federal Internal Revenue Ser­ vice, State D epartm ent O f Revenue, and U . S. Post O ffic e w ill be present, p ro v id in g services fo r last m inute tax filers. Federal .S tate, and Extension Tax Forms w ill be provided. In a d d ition , Eastport Plaza w ill hand out tw o $.29 stamps and tw o envelopes to each tax payer w h ile supplies last. A ll services arc free to the p ublic. P a rticip a tin g Eastport Plaza m er­ chants w ill also rem ain open fo r late n ig h t shopping. E astport Plaza is located on S. E. 82nd A ve , between S. E. H olgate and S. E. P o w e ll B lvd . F o r fu rth e r in fo r­ m ation, c a ll (503) 771-3817 d u rin g w eekdays fro m 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Say You Saw It In... ® lje J J o r tla n h (O b s e rv e r ager, then departm ent head, manag­ in g m ore than 200 researchers. B a tte lle operates on a contract fo r the U.S. D e p a rtm e n to f Energy. H is d iv i- W ashington business R oundtable, a g roup o f key business leaders dealing w ith p u b lic issues v ita l to the state. D r. W ile y is the firs t n a tional laboratory d ire c to r to jo in the C o u n c il o f the g o ve m m e n t-U n iv e rs ity -In d u s - try Research R oundtable, w h ic h re­ ports d ire c tly to the heads o f the N a­ tio n a l A cadem ies o f Science and E n­ gin e erin g and the In s titu te o f M e d i­ cine. D r. W ile y p a rticip a te d in Presi­ dent C lin to n s ’ E co n o m ic C onference in L ittle R ock, A rk ., in 1992 and is a m em ber o f his state’ s C itiz e n C abinet and the E co n o m ic D eve lo p m e n t and E n v iro n m e n ta l Enhancem ent Task Force. D r. W ile y is m arried to the form er M y rtle Louise S m ith , and live s in R ich la n d , W ashington. To Retain Metro Councilor Ed Washington The synagogue shooting report­ edly in vo lve d skinheads using high- The C iv il R ights D iv is io n o f the fo ld o u r tents? Is it M ille r T im e fo r defenders o f hum an rights? A Fund Raiser Second Black Navy Hero Denied World War II Awards To Receive Navy Cross After Fifty Years O n A p r il 5, 1994, 86 -ye a r-o ld W o rld W a r II veteran James D o cke ry received the N avy Cross fo r his b rav­ Friday, April 8,1994; 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Tickets May Be Purchased At: The Brooks Building; 3620 N. Williams, Portland, Oregon 97227 $20.00 (Suggested Donation) Ed Washington T h is is sponsored by Friends O f Ed W ashington C am paign C om m ittee P.A.T.A. Announces Equity/ Non-Equity Auditions E q u ity and n o n -E q u ity actors interested in being considered fo r the upcom ing theatre season take note: The P A T A -sponsored jo in t auditions are scheduled fo r Saturday and Sunday. A p r il 23 and 24. O n A p ril 23 the auditions w ill be held fro m 10:am to 4 :30pm at Interstate Firehouse C u ltu ra l C enter, 5340 N . Interstate, in P ortland. O n A p r il 24 the a uditions w ill be held at Firehouse Theatre, 1436 SW M o n tg o m e ry, P ortland from 11:30am to 4:00pm . A p p ro x im a te ly 20 com panies w ill be represented at these auditions, inc 1 ud i ng Oregon S hakespeare Festi va l/P o rtla n d , La ke w oo d Theatre C om - pany, S y lv ia ’ s Class A c t D in n e r Theatre, O regon Stage C om pany, P o rt­ land, Rep, T ria n g le P roductions, M u sica l C om pany, F estival, IF C C and A rtis ts ’ R epertory Theatre. THESE AUDITIONS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY! You may audition f o r PA TA once per year. P A T A w ill be ta kin g appointm ents at the fo llo w in g tim e o n ly : Pre- registration fo r P A T A members w ill be W ednesday, A p ril 6 fro m noon to 3pm. The num ber to ca ll is 241-4902. A ll others can register on T hursday, A p ril 7 and M on d a y, A p r il 11 fro m noon to 3 p m a t2 4 1-4902. A u d itio n s w ill be scheduled in 5 m in u te in te rva ls and this tim e lim it w ill be ca re fu lly m onitored. A cto rs m ay present tw o contrasting one m inute m onologues or a one-m inute m onologue and a one m inute song. A cto rs w h o w ish to sing w ill have access to an accom panist on Sunday between 11:30 and 1:30pm. Those scheduled at oth e r tim es should be prepared to p ro vid e th e ir ow n accom panim ent, liv e o r taped (tape players are not p ro vid e d ). N o accapella, please. A cto rs m ust also su b m it 24 copies o f th e ir resume and head shot ery O ctober 2 9 ,1 9 4 4 d u rin g a Japa­ (xeroxed o r stapled back to back) to P A T A no later than A p ril 18. A cto rs nese K am inkazee attack on the a ir­ o f c o lo r are encouraged to audition. cra ft ca rrie r In tre p id . D ockery was a m em ber o f one o f the firs t a ll-m in o r­ ity gun tub units assigned to the a ir­ c ra ft c a rrie r d u rin g its w ar m issio n in the P hilippines. D o cke ry, strapped in his a n ti-a irc ra ft gun to fig h t o f f the attacking planes, suffered bum s and in ju rie s to his knees and legs-scars he s till carries. The S tam ford C o n n ecticu t re si­ dent was honorably discharged fro m the N a vy in 1945 and instead o f re ­ c e ivin g the N avy Cross w h ich was prom ised to the gun tub crew by th e ir com m anding o ffic e r, D o cke ry and others received a m uch lo w e r grade award: The bronze star. L a st year another su rvivin g mem ber o f the gun tub crew , A la n zo Swann, success­ fu lly fo u g h t through 50 years o f w hat he term ed “ red tape and a legal mess” to receive the h ig h e r aw ard w h ich was fin a lly presented in an o ffic ia l D o n 't W a it Register To Vote Now Take A Friend With You Volunteers Spotlighted A N o rth P o rtla n d resident and a Ed B a ile y was honored w ith an local n o n -p ro fit o rg a n iza tio n were presented w ith S p o tlig h t A w ards at U n ite d W a y o f the C o lu m b ia - award fo r his co n trib u tio n to the p u b ­ lic service a dvertising cam paign. He W illa m e tte ’ s recent N ig h t o f the Stars A w a rd s D in n e r. A m e rica n Red Cross - Oregon T ra il C hapter received an O utstand­ ing A g e n cy P a rticip a tio n A w a rd fo r g iv in g num erous presentations d u r­ N a vy cerem ony onboard the In tre p id . D o cke ry a tth a ttim e e n lis tc d S w ann’ s ing the 1993 fund d rive . P ictured assistance in p u rsuing his aw ard and fro m le ft to rig h t are John W illia m s , w ith the help o f U.S. Representative 1993 rose F e s tiv a l J u n io r Queen Congressman C h risto p h e r Shays o f C o u rtn e y Burm ester, and J ill N ich o ls S tam ford. was one o f fo u r in d ivid u a ls featured in the 1993 ad cam paign and is s triv ­ ing to keep kid s o u t o f gangs by sharing his story o f his past gang in v o lv e m e n t T om Parker fro m K 103 served as m a ste ro f ceremonies. M e d ia present­ ers in clu d e d Ju lie E m ry and J e ff G ianola fro m K A T U , Brenda B raxton and C a rl C lic k fro m K G W , K im fro m A m e rica n Red Cross - Oregon S ingcrand Pat K irk o f K P T V , K U P L ’ s D oug D ahlgren and Susan B a n , and T ra il C hapter. John W illia m s o f K IS N .