Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, January 15, 1997, Martin Luther King, Jr. Special Edition, Image 1

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January
Committed to cultural diversity.
Volume X X V II, Num ber 3
Martin Luther
King, Jr.
Derrick Shezbie
Shezbie shows reverence
for the traditions laid
down by pioneers like
King Buddy Bolden and
Tommy Ladnier.
Special Edition
Tiger Woods wins
Tiger Woods captures the
rain-shortened Mercedes
Championships as he
nearly aces the one par-3
playoff hole.
See inside, Section C.
See Arts & Entertainment, page B3.
See inside, page A5.
f
Ot • y*-* n
Defense rests case
Phone Silence
The Metro Crisic Line the state's oldest
crisis line, closes al ter handling thousands
of calls for 18 years. A new mental health
line will take it’s place.
King’s Observance
,J. Simpson's defense rested
Tuesday In the wrongful death
trial after calling 39 witnesses
to build a case that Simpson was victim­
ized by police ineptitude and wrongdo­
ing.
Sim pson's final witness was his oldest
daughter Arnelle Simpson, whocontradicted
police detectives’ accounts of some ol their
actions at Sim pson's estate the morning aftci
the June 12, 1994. slayings of Nicole Brown
Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
Arnelle Simpson also testified about the
emotionally wrenching moment when De­
tective Tom Lange told her about the death of
Nicole Brown Simpson.
"He said that she had been killed at her
house and that there was somebody else with
her. " Arnelle Simpson s a id
“ How did you react
asked defense at­
torney Dan Leonard.
"I was shocked.'' she said I was stunned
I was upset, confused, scared."
Arnelle Simpson said she spoke with I ange
after four detectives arrived at her father’s
estate early on June 13, 1994, She said tw o of
them. Lange and partner Philip Vannalter,
knocked on herdoorand asked her where her
father was.
"I told them I didn't know where he was.
but that I knew somebody who could get in
touch with him ,’’ she said, referring to
Simpson’s personal assistant. Cathy Randa
Arnelle Simpson said she then led the
detectives from the hack area where she lived
in a guest house around to the front of her
father's home and let them in.
That testimony contradicts the account of
Lange and other detectives who said Arnelle
Simpson let them in through a back door.
Arnelle Simpson said she didn’t let them in
that way because she assumed the back door
was locked from the inside and it can’t be
opened with a key w hen it is locked.
Earlier, the defense re-called plaintiff wit­
ness Officer Donald Thompson to describe
how
under orders from Vannalter he
handcuffed Simpson when Simpson arrived
at his home alter Hying back from Chicago
the day after the killings.
Vannalter denied give such an order.
Portlanders celebrate the 68th birthday
of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. this
month with a mix o f soulful revelry and
soul-searchingsoleminity. King'sbirhtday
is Wednesday, but the federally recog­
nized Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Mon­
day. Jan 20.
Portland tough
on batterers
In recent years, Portland has joined
cities that routinely prosecute batterers
without the victim’s concent. Some de­
fense attorneys criticize the aggressive
stance, and some women’s advocates have
misgivings, but the technique has won
convictions and is becoming more com­
mon nationwide.
In 1969,
Highland Grade
School, grades
1 thru 8,
honored the
legacy of Martin
Luther King, Jr.
by being the first
school in Oregon
to be renamed
in his honor.
Medical marijuana
use approved
Supporters of the Cannabis Buyers’
Club of San Francisco rejoice at a court
ruling on a voter initiative allowing medi­
cal use of the drug, but their legal troubles
are far from over
Bulgaria works
toward peace
Faced with the country’s bloodiest up­
rising signaling the end of Stalinist rule,
the governing ex-Communists agree to
talks with opposition leaders demanding
early elections.
Photo by M.
Washington
Israeli withdrawal
prolonged
Jordan’s King Hussein has secured a
concession from Yasser Arafat to prolpng
an Israeli withdrawal from West Bank
rural areas. Palestinians say. The move
could hasten a comprehensive accord on
expanding Palestinian autonomy.
Term Limits
A host of veteran Oregon lawmakers
begin a legislative session that could well
be their last O regon’s term limit law,
approved by voters in 1992, kicks in dur­
ing the 1998 election season
Superbowl contenders
In the AFC New England intercepts
two passes and recovers a fumble for a
touchdown in the last 3:43 to secure a 20-
6 victory over Jacksonville to win a berth
in the Super Bowl.
In the NFC the Green Bay Packers earn
their first trip to the Super Bowl since
1968 wtih a 30-13 victory over Carol i na at
frigid Lambeau Field.
US 2 6 (Sunset Highway)
Motorists can expect a slower speed
limit on the newly opened detour in the
westbound lanes between the Washington
Park Zoo interchange and Sylvan inter­
change. Drivers are asked to avoid lane
changes through the detour. The project
to widen the highway is scheduled for
completion in fall 1997.
Canyon Coui I is closed between High­
land Parkway westbound to W estgate
Drive unitl October 1997.
Schools failing minorities
III R \ R I )
II 50 states in the United States
fail to provide African-American
and Latino children with ad­
equate schooling, stunting their readi­
ness for future job markets, revealed a
study recently released by the Educa­
tion Trust.
The Education Trust is a Washington.
D C.-based non-profit think tank, pushing
for high academic standards for students from
preschool to college with a primary focus on
African American and Latino students Its
250-page report ranks different states by
achievement levels. Using 17 indicators to
determine educational quality in those states,
the study. Education Watch: The 1996 Edu­
cation Trust State and National Data Book,
reported a widening gulf between students
After two decades of what appeared to be
progress in educational parity among class­
mates of various income brackets anil races,
those advances have come to a halt. Now. the
study's authors warned, the gap between the
"haves" and the "have-nots” is growing again
When asked how state superintendents
could reverse the slide, group executives said
officials must hold African-American and
BV V l V IlIM IR t
Latino youth to the same learning standards
as while students, adequately prepare teach
ers and use challenging instructional tools
“We support a com mon-sense approach to
these problems," said Amy Wilkins, senior
associate with the Trust.
"There are three steps that we advocate.
One is to set high standards for all students,
no matter what then background or income
level. The second is to properly prepare teach­
ers for the classrooms. The third is to care­
fully pick curriculum for students."
In New York, the study showed, more than
one in three classes in cash-poor high schools
are taught by instructors with less than a
college minoi in the subject they are teach
ing. By comparison, more than one in 10
classes in the state's most financially equipped
high schools are taught by such ill-prepared
teachers, the study continued.
Less than 20 percent ofCaliforniaa fourth-
graders could read at the proper level, the
study showed. For minority students, the
scores worsened: One out of 12 African
American fourth graders and one out 16
Latino fourth-graders were "competent read­
ers".
Additionally, the study pointed out that
Minnesota ranked dead last in reading among
African lourth-graders; while Nevada has
the lowest num berof college bound minority
students.
In the last two years government officials
i n Colorado spent three times as much money
on theircriminal justice system as they did on
elementary and secondary education, the
study staled Expenditures on the penal sys­
tem exceeded spending on higher education
by up to 40 times in the stale.
In Pennsylvania, 30 percent of white eighth
grade students had solid math skills com­
pared to merely eight of their Latino and six
percent ol their African-American classmates
"We need to stop tracking our students in
the dumb classes and put more of them on a
challenging course. We need to train them
hard in subjects like physics, english and
math. These students need materials like
microscopes and books," Wilkins said.
She further suggested that while govern­
ment officials should give the majority of aid
Io schools, local entities must pick up the
slack for students of color "If we push the
government, the assistance w on't be that
much different, we need to hold everyone
accountable," she said.
-A M
seeks
new name
he new owners of E&M Com­
munity M arket, Emmanuel
Community General Services,
ECGS, will rename the store, as part of
its efforts to reorganize the company.
ECGS seeks a name more reflective of
the markets new focus and philoso­
phy.
The contest to rename the market kicks-
olf January 15, 1997 on Dr Martin Luther
King, Jr.'s Birthday Bishop Wells. Pastor
Emmanuel Temple Church, said, “E&M is
a model of what Dr King dreamed about
and fought for. It is in the best tradition of
self-help and brotherhood--encouraging all
people to work together to build a better
community.”
E&M will select two entries to compete
for the first and second place prizes—a
$1,200 and $300 shopping spree. Local
residents can pick up an entry form must be
received by close of business January 29 to
be eligible.
ECGS, a supporter in the effort to revi­
talize North/Northcast Portland, re-opened
E&M Market November 5 , 1996aftermore
than five months of renovation and restruc­
turing. In anticipation of the opening, ECGS
took some bold steps to ensure customer
satisfaction and community development.
A Business Development Committee has
been established to ensure community in­
volvement. The committee, which is com ­
prised of neighborhood residents and com ­
munity leaders, will assist E&M in identi­
fying opportunities for partnerships with
organizations and businesses that stimulate
neighborhood revitalization. The com m it­
tee will also determine the organizations Io
receive assistance through E& M 's chari­
table contributions program. E&M has com­
mitted to investing as much as IOc/< of its
net profits in community-based human ser­
vice agencies.
E& M 's commitment to customer ser­
vice and community development also
prompted the decision not to sell alcoholic
beverages or cigarette's. Paul Marshall,
Board Chairman, ECGS, slates "not only
do African-Americans and other minorities
have much higher rates of cancer and alco­
holism but the cost to our communities in
terms of the health risk, medical treatment
and lost productivity have been
astronomical. ECGS is not only com m it­
ted to business growth and development
but to the health and well being of the
communities we serve."
These steps, and others taken by ECGS,
reflect its commitment to working with
neighborhood residents to solve com m u­
nity problems. According to Benjamin
Priestly. Executive Director, N ECoalition
of neighborhoods, "the market is signifi­
cant in that it serves as a training ground for
youth and others interested in learning busi­
ness management, marketing, and the gro­
cery industry. It also serves as a model for
business development and corporate re­
sponsibility. E&M Market has the poten­
tial of making a significant contribution to
the social and economic vitality ot N/NE
Portland.”
Raleigh Lewis. Vice Chair, Coalition of
Black Men stated that "E&M is the only
business that has embraced a philosophy
that addresses customer satisfaction, pro­
motes their well being, ensures community
involvement and reinvests its dollars back
into the community."
E&M Community Market prides itself
on providing quality food and good service
in a clean and safe environment E&M is
open seven days a week from 7:00 a m . to
9.00 p m.
Individuals may call. Robert Malone.
Operations Manager, at 289-3885.
■■M M
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