S eptember 14, 1994 • T he P ortland O bserver
P age A3
p e rsp e c tiv e s
¿Setters 'SSe sSstie ( 3 ^ iter
Send your letters to the Editor to:
Editor, PO Box 3137, Portland, OR 97208
Immigration: Race,
Money And Power, I
ccasio nally, I have
written her about the
impact of American
immigration policy on both the
economic and social welfare
of African Americans.
©
But, now,
this issue has be
come a rather con
sistent theme in
discussions held
by black people at
many levels. The
concern has been
intensified by the great amount of
media attention paid to “asylum re
quests” from countries whose in
habitants for the most part were not
in the original (European) masses
that fled to America.
ASYLUM APPLICANTS
The top 25 nationalities of asy
lum applicants accounted for 88
percent of the 150,386 claims filed
in fiscal 1993. The countries and
the num ber of applicants:
1. G uatem ala.. ..34,681
2. El Salvador. ..15,362
3. C hina.......... . 14,354
4. Haiti............ .11,377
5. Mexico......... .6,192
6. India............ 5,902
7. Pakistan...... .4,653
8. Nicaragua.... .4,286
9. Philippines.. .4,107
10. Bangladesh.. . 3,759
11. Russia.......... .3,427
12. P eru............. .3,244
13 C uba............ 3,010
14. H onduras..... .2,836
15. Yugoslavia... .2,425
16. Nigeria......... 1,993
17. Rom ania...... 1,591
18. G hana.......... 1,572
19. Ethiopia....... 1,383
20. Colombia..... 1,315
21. Liberia......... 1,192
22. Poland.......... .1,059
23. U kraine........ 1,027
24. A rm enia....... 938
25. Syria............. .872
Many blacks feel that their con-
cern is well taken, insisting that they
have discerned a definite pattern to
American immigration policy since
a formal bureau was set up almost
200 years ago. Whereas heretofore.
African American with varying de
grees of success, have prepared
themselves to deal with the inequi
ties that flow from relationships with
the descendants of those original
European masses, they do not know
about these new onslaughts.
It is seen that these “Asylum
People” w ill-as in the case of past
immigrant minorities—be placed in
a economic hegemony over blacks,
as has happened most recently with
anum berof Asian ethnics. This is in
respect to housing and commercial
real estate availability (location ! lo
cation! location!), business oppor
tunities and franchises which are
not limited to the Negro variety’ of
minor scale food service, janitorial
enterprises and car washes. Blacks
have developed skills, technology
and experiences that have also
equipped them to operate at higher
levels-but it seems impossible to
convince either
banks or p ro
spective land
lords of that fact
(G o v e rn m e n t
Agencies?).
So it is not
ju s t G overnor
Chiles of Florida who feels that he
has legitimate concerns, but mil
lions of blacks under the economic
pressures of massive layoffs we’ve
described the past few weeks. They
are suspicious and filled with trepi
dation when they become aware of
the following activity by the federal
government (Minority Business
Enterprise Magazine).
The U S. Office Of Manage
ment and budget (OMB) is review
ing the racial and ethnic categories
used by federal agencies for gov
ernment-wide record keeping and
statistical data collection. The re
view is the result of increasing criti
cism that the standards no longer
truly reflect the U.S. population’s
diversity since they were first is
sued 17 years ago.
While the most commonly
known use of racial and ethnic cat
egories is census reporting, the cat
egories are also used for evaluating
public and private sector affirma
tive action plans, monitoring mi
norities’ access to home mortgage
loans, enforcing the Equal Credit
Opportunity Act and assisting firms
under minority business develop
ment programs.
Proposed changes include:
•
Adding a “multi-racial” cat
egory so that respondents would not
be forced to deny part of their heri
tage by having to choose a single
category;
•
Adding an “other” category tor
those individuals with multiracial
backgrounds and those who want
the option of specifically stating a
unique identification;
•
Providing an open-ended ques
tion to solicit information on race and
ethnicity, or combining concepts of
race, ethnicity and ancestry;
Changing the category for Black to
African American;
•
Including Native Hawaiians as
a separate category or as part of
Native American rather than as part
of the Asian or Pacific Islander cat
egories;
•
Including Hispanic as a racial
designation rather than as a sepa
rate ethnic category; and Adding a
“Middle Easterner” category to the
list of ethnic designations.
Continued next week.
(Elje IflortlatTti (©bseruer
(USPS 959-6801
31
C
It was great to see the
news coverage on the
demonstration by the
Black M onday C om m ittee,
o rig in a lly
c o n c e iv e d
by
Drummer and Dream ers, a
human rights group opposed
to the death penalty.
Hundreds of neighborhood folks
on the co rn er o f N ortheast
Killingsworth and Martin Luther
King Blvd. leaped at the chance to
Joyce Washington—Publisher
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Publishers. Inc, New York. NY. and The West Coast Black Publishers
Association • Serving Portland and Vancouver
m isconceptions. This dem onstra
tion was against the entire crime
bill. The charade that C ongress
thinks has fooled the country,
has fooled no one. Republicans
and D em ocrats pretend to fight
while uniting to pass a true porker
o f a bill. Pork for construction
com panies to build prisons and
for cities to hire more police.
The R epublicans claim that so
cial service program s are pork.
They are not. This billion dollar
e x tra v a g a n z a o f a b ill, th at
fleeces the public, is. It will not
make our city streets one bit safer,
but more dangerous, because it
wastes our money that is needed
for social program s.
We say term inate the crim e
bill and the death penalty. R e
vive hope through a ju st d istri
bution of w ealth and o p p ortu
nity.
Jordana
Women
Sardo;
Radical
The Death Penalty Myth
am writing to express
my con cern about
v
capital punishment, to
let you know what the Black
Monday Committee is doing to
break the death penalty myth
and to ask for your help.
Capital punishment does not
deter crime. In fact, the death penalty
adds to the cycle of violence many
communities face. The death penalty
discrimi nates against people of color
and the poor. The state has taken
many innocent lives in the name of its
citizens and continues to spend over
three times the cost of a life sentence
seeking a death sentence. However,
many abolitionists believe the stron
gest argument is a moral one; to kill
is wrong. Whether it be by the state or
a citizen, to kill is wrong.
"Black August” is acknowl
edged as a month when great strides
and sacrifices were made by the Af
rican American community. Appro
priately, we have decided to kick off
our project the last Monday of every
month until Black Monday 1995.
Abolitionists from all walks of life
and various peace and justice organi
zations are invited to gather, walk the
streets and share the facts of the
death penalty with our neighbors.
We will meet at 10 a.m. at the
Wingsot Love, 101N. Killingsworth.
From there we will be heading into
the inner city (North and Northeast)
armed with cellular phones, litera
ture and energy. We will be offering
people the opportunity to call con
gress and legislative representatives
expressing concern about the obvi
ous trend in leadership not to deal
with the true roots of crime, the crime
bill is but one example.
Oregon is surrounded by active
death penalty states: California,
Washington and Idaho. Oregon cur
rently has 18 men on death row. We
must not wait for another death sen
tence or an execution. Those op
posed to capital punishment must
unite in a solid coalition with a com
mitment to fight against the death
penalty until its abolition. The Black
Monday project is a wonderful way
to become involved. Please join us.
We need endorsements from
organizations com m unities and
groups you are involved in. We need
contributions of money, time and
spirit. The smallest donation would
be very much appreciated. We are a
grassroots project inspired by frus
tration, hope and energy. For more
information contact Sheldah Holmes
at 232-8895. Donations should be
sent to 2126S.E. Brooklyn St., Port
land, OR 97202. Sincerely, Sheldah
Holmes, student area coordinator.
Amnesty International, Northern
Oregon Coalition to Abolish the
Death Penalty, steering committee
of Portland Peaceworks.
In Response To Dr. Ernesto Montgomery
he list is long. Amy
Fisher, Tonya Harding,
Jim B akker, Joey
Buttofuco, Phil Keating, The
Menendez brothers, Jeffery
Dahlmer, (and many more that
at present escape my mind) -
- could it be that these are all innocent
white people, castigated publicly by
the media and paraded on television
and in the newspapers with one pur
pose in mind: so people can “con
tinue to witness the humiliation of
another successful member of the”
Caucasian community?
Dr. Montgomery, your anger and
frustration was quite evident in your
recent column, "The Saga of O.J.
Simpson" which appeared in The
Portland Observer. As I read it I
thought, this man is hurting but his
thinking is way off base. It’s obvious
that the tragedy of OJ Simpson finds
himself involved in is a shock and a
disappointment to you, and that you
are frustrated and hurt - but what you
don’t understand is - millions of
Caucasians are feeling the same way.
Don' t you understand that the reason
OJ is getting all of this incredible
attention from the average person is
not that he is black for God’s sake,
but that he is one of the most loved
and adored A m ericas in the land?
When he was taking the long drive
and it was reported that he had a gun
to his head, I cried and silently begged
him not to do it. “Please OJ, don’t do
that, no matter what.”
I am not a sports follower at all,
but even I, a Caucasian female knows
who OJ Simpson is. And by the way,
this may come as a surprise to you,
but my society was not successful it
it’s goal was to teach me that because
I am white, I am therefore inherently
superior to this incredible man or any
black man and I don’t think you can
honestly state that you know Nicole
Simpson felt that way either. That is
just something your culture has taught
you to assume about us. But I am not
inferior either because I am female
and of course would feel “the great
est humiliation of being powerless
under” any man, regardless of his
race or origins.
Because of your convictions it
may be hard for you to accept this
too: it is because everyone has al
ways had respect for him, because he
is a beautiful man and a caring hu
man being whose closest friends had
never seen a negative side to him,
because he was so well known and
loved all over America, that OJ
Simpson’s case drew our attention
like a magnet, not because he is black!
I hope the courts find him inno
cent, both for his sake and his
children’s sake.
You can certainly be angry at
the mass media whodaily ruin peoples
lives with their rumor-mongering and
biased reporting. I am filled with
rage everyday at the Rush Limbaughs
and the Jerry Falwells and Pat
Buchanans and the George Wills who
slander and lie and make President
Clinton’s life pure hell, but who can
I put the blame on besides those
individuals who are doing the bash
ing? All America? And was Tonya
Harding innocent and simply perse
cuted by the media? Was all that
attention to her case simply jealous
men trying to bring down another
successful white woman?
Dr. Montgomery, you can be
guilty of biased reporting yourself
when you write, “as American moves
to destroy a former African Ameri
can Football star," a statement which
includes all white Americans in this
plot, poisoning the minds of your
readers against all of us who do not
share your skin color, accusing us all
of taking joy in this beloved man’s
downfall. Your statements paint a
picture for those who read them of a
reality that is far from the truth. Please
do not use the emotion of this tragedy
to create more anger and hate. As an
individual who lives in a mixed com
munity, I do not want to see a race
war because history shows that, just
as there is no such thing as an abso
lutely “innocent righteous people,”
there is no winner in a civil war, only
more pain and loss. Think of Ireland
and of course, Rwanda.
Another newspaper article re
cently quoted Hugh Price, new presi
dent of the National Urban League
who said: “We must not let ourselves
fall into the paranoid trap of thinking
that racism accounts for all that
plagues us. ...Let’s not wallow for
ever in real or perceived grievances
lest we become Bosnia some day.”
Mr. Price suggested we encouraged
racial harmony and I, for one, heard
my own hopes expressed through
him and I am eager for any opportu
nity to help that cause, regardless of
what injustices occurred before I even
arrived on the planet.
P. Allison, Neighbor of North
east Portland
Oregon’s Judicial System, Direct Cause Of Homelessness
by
R. P itts
If everything is black and white
and no in betweens (no gray
areas) there would be no need
for intelligent reasoning from
the courts.
OREGON’S OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLICATION
Established in 1970 by Alfred L. Henderson
demonstrate their opposition to the
crime bill, with its increased death
penalties, mandatory minimums and
“3 strikes, you’re out” measures
aimeddirectly at African Americans,
other people of color, the poor, im
migrants and the disenfranchised.
R adical W om en was s u r
prised that an O regonian article
stated the dem onstration was only
against the death penalty. As one
o f the endorsers o f the dem on
stration, we want to clarify any
It is obvious Oregon has judges
which exercise no ethics, morals, or
intelligent reasoning in their deci
sion making.
Everything written on a piece of
paper in black and white is not law
because it is on a sheet of paper,
submitted by a judge or an attorney.
Rulings made in court can justifiably
be reversed. Legal decisions when
made under inappropriate circum
stances should no, be considered
etched in stone, cause hardship, nor
contribute to the fall of individuals.
Court rulings cannot justifiably be
made and should not be based on
parts or bits and pieces of the truth.
Issues on appeal should not be ruled
on inother courts based on issues and
facts to be determined.
If the law of the land is as cut and
dry as two or more of the judges
sitting on the bench have ruled, there
is absolutely no need forjudges, con
sequently, all the state does is pay
judges an astronomical salary to read
a piece of paper handed down from
another judge and apply law based
on that same paper whether right or
wrong. As a result of such actions, no
discretion or reasoning is applied
based on circumstances, verbal ex
change of information or necessary
documentation needed to make a fair,
just and equitable decision.
Oregon presently has judges on
the bench making crucial rulings
concerning the lives of people ren
dering them helpless and homeless.
They blatantly disregard important
facts, and fail to ask for opposing
parties documentation of statements
and rule on cases without verifica
tion of important facts and all perti
nent data. Judges should request,
collect, and review all information;
apply wisdom, discretion, and be
knowledgeable of law to settle dis
putes according to the law. How can
judges make rulings without having
reviewed and heard case law from
each side before ruling on a case?
Oregon even has judges applying
inappropriate case law as sample
cases for ruling.
Current statistics show an alarm
ing percentage of domestic violence
increase with focus on a tremendous
number of women and children in
facilities for battered women or home
less shelters. These people’s lives
have literally been at the mercy of the
court to no apparent avail.
Judges mus, possess wisdom and
exercise such insight from an objec
tive perspective of both sides, not
just one side. The law should not be
applied according to which attorney
the judge admires the most, befriend,
play tennis, racquetball, golf, chess,
sip coffee with, or any conceivable
form of association which can cloud
a judge’s opinion.
In addition the law must not be
interpreted according to which party
files first, nor which attorney the
judge has no personality conflict;
which is a quality a particular Or-
egonjudges lack. This lack of quality
is an important factor in being a
judge as well as the selection of judges
and warrants state investigation.
Invariable there is a perpetrator
of all desirable and undesirable be
havior. In every conflict there is al
ways a person, group, city, nation, or
country which act seemingly and
unseemingly. The unseeming behav
ior is usually to the point of abnor
mality; causing havoc in the home or
designated area of conflict creating
an undesirable atmosphere. Oregon
judges are exemplifying unseeming
behavior in court. Unseeming be
havior may be viewed on a serious
note as corrupt government.
Just as a criminal (taking the
livelihoodofothcrs)commi,sacnme
of robbery, murder, rape, etc. and
receive statutory punishment; sodoes
a man or woman who commit an
unforgivable act of destroying a home
and family based on vows made be
tween man and woman in the eye
sight of God, no, the state of Oregon.
Divorce and domestic violence
being among the greatest contribut
ing factor to inducing homelessness
and the breakdown of family struc
ture, certainly warrants the selection
of qualified judges.
D ecisions
governing
individual’s lives must undoubtedly
be decisions that protect the people.
A government established by the
people and for the people should le
structured to benefit the people. I am
currently aware of at least twojudges
making rulings threatening the well
being of women and children in par
ticular, calling them personal prob
lems.
Persons encountering and wit
nessing obvious displays of irrespon
sible actions on the part of Oregon’s
judiciary representatives, please con
tact the Christian Homeless Corpo
ration of America at (503) 249-0649.
Correspondence should be directed
to: 1552 N. Killingsworth, Por land,
OR 97217. All persons responding
to this request please be prepared to
provide documentation to verify your
complain, upon request.