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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 1997)
A ug . 6 , 1 9 9 7 • T he P ortland O bserver P age A 4 More children imprisoned with adults Don’t allow our young people to be crushed In the push for harsher punishments B y M arian W right E delman Since the beginning of the decade, politi cians in all 50 states have been pushing for laws to try more children as adults, even though there is no evidence that being con victed in adult court or sentenced to adult prison is an effective way to reduce youth crime. The truth is, exposing children to the more hardened criminals in the adult justice system-which lacks the education and psy chological treatment available in the Juve nile system -not only jeopardizes young offenders’ safety but increases the likeli hood that they will commit crimes again. Studies show that those tried as adults S. 10 would subject more children to the cruelty of adult jails and prisons. S. 10 would allow juveniles to mix freely with adults as long as there isn’t "direct physical contact that provides an opportunity for an adult inmate to physically harm ajuvenile.” Which is no protection at all. Current law provides for removal of juveniles from adult facili ties in most cases and, if not, separation of juveniles from adults by sigh, and sound. Tell Congress: It is essential that children who are arrested be housed in juvenile fa cilities, or at least separated from adults by sigh, and sound. Juvenile facilities are se cure and protect the community from any potential danger; protect children from ha- rassment, propositions, and physical and sexual assault by adult prisoners; and at tempt to ensure that the children receive the education, counseling, treatment, and reha bilitation only available in juvenile facili ties. S. 10 would treat runaways and truants like criminals rather than children in need. S. 10 allows runaways and truants to be held in correctional facilities—for 10 days, and in some cases even longer. Current law al lows the children to be held only in deten tion facilities, and for shorter periods. Tell Congress: Children who run away or skip school do not belong in jails and pris ons, especially not for indefinite, or lengthy, periods of time. These children need access to community facilities and services, where there is help and hope for their futures. Let’s no, allow children to be tried in adult courts and thrown into adult prison where they will only learn to be better crimi nals. Instead, let’s invest in intervention and prevention on the front end, and do some thing to stop the flow of guns into our children’s communities and homes. And if your children are unfortunate enough to land in court, let’s ensure that they get the kind of education and psychological treatment that will help them lead productive lives. For more information about the B C C C , call 202-628-8787. Finding extraordinary results for children St. Mark Baptist plans revival Everybody Can Make A Difference A ll Christians in the greater Portland metropolitan area with a heart for genuine Holy Spirit inspired revival, are invited to join the St. Mark Baptist Church of Portland in a Solemn Assembly of the Saints before God August 24th thru 26th. The theme for the occasion is “ Set A-part To God,” Nehemiah 9:1-3. The Reverend Percy Manuel, a senior elder among the elders in Portland and co-pastor of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, will bring a Word from the Lord each of the three evenings. The assemblies will began at St. Mark on Sunday, August 24th at 6PM; Monday the 25th and Tuesday the 26th at 7PM. The church is located at 103 N E Morris Street. Rev. Robert Kelley is the pastor. For more information call (503) 287- 7457. B i M arin W right E dei . man We adults look at the daunting c h a l lenge o f ensuring that all children are raised to be kind, healthy, intelligent, and moral in an increasin gly hostile society and wonder whether we have enough money, education, or time to really make a positive difference in their lives. From now on, whenever you start doubt ing whether you, as an individual, have the power to ensure that children are safe, well educated, and morally grounded, tell your self: I can ask my social club, employer, soror ity, fraternity, or choir to adopt a school or a class. I can start a homework club, chess club. Scrabble club, or debating team on my block. I can read to a child in a children’s hospi tal for an hour on two Saturday afternoons a month. I can walk a neighborhood child whose parents work to school two mornings a week. I can make sure my children know about the dangers of handguns, refuse to allow a handgun in my home, and urge elected offi cials to keep handguns out of the hands of young people. I can hold a yard sale and donate the proceeds to an after-school program. I can write a letter to the editor about children’s issues in my community or meet with my newspaper’s editorial board to edu cate the members about the needs of chil dren in my community. I can Find out about local immunization projects and share the information with par ents in my neighborhood-or organize a project myself. I can give one child a music lesson once a week. I can attend police and community meet ings and raise concerns about children's safety. I can organize a winter coat and shoe drive for children in need or go through my children's toy box with them and donate some toys to another child or shelter. I can encourage my employer to institute a flex-time policy that encourages employ ees to attend school-related activities-or start one myself if I am an employer. I can make sure that there are no toxic materials like lead paint in my home. I can raise or give money to sponsor a child for a week at camp. 1 can buy extra school supplies when I shop with my children and donate them to a shelter or neighborhood school. I can ask my church or mosque to open the building at night for children in the commu nity who need tutoring. I can demand that store owners in my neighborhood not sell alcohol or cigarettes to minors. I can start a bus token drive for students who cannot afford transportation costs to school. I can have a story hour in my living room every Sunday for neighborhood children I can survey my community for aban doned houses, vacant lots, and drug houses that are harmful to children and work to get rid of them I can form a library club on my block and escort children to the library once a month I can help children on my block create a I commit new crimes sooner after their re lease from prison and commit more serious and violent crimes, than those tried as juve niles. This fall, the U.S. Senate will vote on a bill, S. 10, which could mean more children than ever being thrown into adult jails and prisons. The House already has passed an equally harsh companion bill, H R. 3. We must act now to ensure that our children are not trampled in the political rush for harsher punishments against young offenders. Call your Senators when they are home the month of August to support crucial changes to S. 10. neighborhood garden or a container garden. I can call a radio talk show to speak out on behalf of children and speak the truth to those who spread a message of hate, fear, and prejudice. I can learn about which elected officials support children’s issues and vote for them. I can organize a summer nutrition pro gram to provide needed meals for hungry children. I can invite a teenager to accompany me twice a week on my morning run or walk or invite a neighborhood child to accompany my family on a trip to a museum or play ground. Everybody can help produce extraordi nary results for children by doing some very ordinary things. Let's all of us begin thinking of ways that we can make a difference and never accept the notion that we have too little money, time, or education to do so. Editor’s note: Marian Wright Edelman is president o f the Children's Defense Fund, which coordinates the Black Com munity Crusade for Children, whose mis sion is to leave no child behind and to ensure every child a healthy, head, fair, safe, and moral start in life o SAFEWAY FOOD & DRUG Mt. Olivit sets special meeting oi, 99 years old' is one o f the artworks on display in a collection on art 1 Portland State University as part o f the exhibition "Affirming Women 's ■aditionai Roles: Care Giver and Crone" which opens Thursday and can =• coon thmnah jii/0 oq at tho Iinivnrsitv's Smith Memorial Center. _____ SUMMER SALE Fresh Oregon Grown Fryers SAFEWAY (ki) COUPON EXPIRES B/12/97 Lucerne Gallon Milk • 1%, 2% , Non Fat, Dairyland or Skim Supreme • First 1 with coupon »Thrifty Pack (Washington Fryers sold in Washington) • First 3 • SAVE up Io B it lb. JH » HUÍ Lucerne Non Fat Lucerne 1% Lucerne 2% Lucerne Oairyland Lucerne Skim Supreme With The SAFEWAY EXTRA In-Store Savings Guide A ll members of Mt Olivit Baptist Church are invited to participate in an open discus sion meeting Sunday Aug. 10 at 5:00 p.m. at Highland Baptist Church, 607 N. E. Alberta. The meeting is hosted by concerned t members support group. J iff Pea( 1 I J PLU »ROM RLU «8001 PLU »8002 PLU »8003 PLU «8004 One coupon per customer Coupon valid 8/6/97 thru 8/12/97 at your Oregon Safeway Stores (except Milton-Freewater) and S W Washington stores servingi Clark. Wahkiakum Cowlitz. Skamania and Klickitat bounties only COUPON CANNOT BE DOUBLED Sweet Juicy Nectarines Available at your Safeway store. Visit Safeway s Web site at w w w .s afe w ay .c o m • Grown in California . SAVE up to M t lb. PRICES EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1997 1 i i
