Volume XXVII, Number 45
Com m itted to cultural diversity.
Don King profiled
on HBO
He went from a life on the
streets to become the
world's most successful and
vilified boxing promoter.
See Arts & Entertainment, page B3.
Nov. 12, 1997
Citizens
giving back
It's a first-hand
account on tobacco
perils
Area kids get an inside
look at smoking
deceptions.
See Metro section, inside.
ÖIlu'
Linda Wright is among
those honored by
Garlington Center for
Behavioral Health Care.
See Metro section, inside.
v
Portland opens dialogue on slavery
Clinton recalls sacrifices
President Clinton told people honor
ing the country's war dead today that they
can honor them by advancing the cause of
peace around the world. Speaking at a
Veterans Day observance at Arlington
National Cemetery. Clinton also decried
efforts by Iraq to build "weapons of mass
destruction" and called lor all nations to
unite against the scourges of organized
crime, drug trafficking and terrorism. He
also placed a wreath at the Tomb of the
Unknowns, a monument to unidentified
soldiers who perished in the nation's wars.
Iraq condemnation
sought from UN
The United Stales expressed confi
dence today that the Security Council
would condemn Iraq lor not cooperating
with American arms inspectors Wash
ington appeared willing to hold off on
military action for now. U.S. Ambassa
dor Bill Richardson acknowledged today
that "some wrinkles" in the proposed
resolution need to be ironed out with
fiance and Russia. Iraq was also busy at
the United Nations. Deputy Prime Min
ister Tariq Aziz met privately with the
council president. Ambassador Qian
Huasun of China. And Iraq's foreign min
ister. Mohammed Said al-Sahhaf, invited
the Security Council to send its own
mission to Baghdad to look into Iraqi
charges that the United States is manipu
lating the U N weapons inspection team
to keep economic sanctions in place.
Iraq turns away team
Compensation
and apology are
discussed as
means to repair
centuries of
oppression
B y N eii . H eilpern
Should African-Americans re
ceive reparations from the United
States lor centuries ol oppres
sion in this country 's slavery sys
tem
That question has been asked
at forums throughout the country
lately , the latest including ailozcn
people at the Dishman Commu
nity Center last Friday. The group
included six African-Americans,
fourCaucasiansand one Chinese-
Hawaiian.
They explored how much
money or other types of repara
tions would be appropriate and
reviewed the plights of other "op
pressed minorities" and racism
in general.
The dialogue was facilitated
by Victor Propes, of Oregon
Commission on Black Affairs,
and Linda Hunter of the Metro
politan Human Rights Center.
"There was a huge amount of
profitable wealth out of slavery,”
said Propes.
"We also lost out language,
our names, our relationships anil
more," said Derry Jackson
Reparation should include
both compensation and an offi Rev. Dr. LeRoy Haynes Jr. makes a point during a discussion on reparations for slavery, while facilitator
cial apology, said Rev. Dr. LeRoy Linda Hunter of the Metropolitan Human Rights Commission listens.
(Photo by Neil Heilpern)
Iraq Tuesday turned back a team of
weapons inspectors that included Ameri
cans for the eighth time in nine days. “We
don’t mind you doing your inspection,
but without Americans.’’ an Iraqi official
standing outside the site in Baghdad told
the U N. inspectors, “We will cooperate
with you.” The inspectors refused the
condition and returned to their headquar
ters. Monday, the United Nations did not
attempt to send inspectors.
Rather signs new deal
Oregon officials, including
Charles Moose lend support to
President Clinton
resident Clinton wants to toughen-
work through all U.S. attorneys to coordi
up U.S. laws against hale crimes,
nate the handling of these crimes.
and proposes adding gays, the dis
Speaking extemporaneously as part of a
abled and women to the list of people panel
cov discussion on the subject at George
ered by them.
Washington University, Clinton said there
Portland Police Chief Charles Moose
were three reasons that people commit hate
added his support for the legislation, ap
pearing in Washington Monday for the
president's announcement.
U S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is also co-
sponsor of the proposal, along with Demo
cratic Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachu
setts and Republican Sen. Arlen Specter ol
frican American Students and
Pennsylvania.
their families at Warner Pacific
"Our laws already punish some crimes
College are concerned about ra
committed against people on the basis ol
cial hate crimes occurring on campus.
race or religion or national origin,” Clinton
Threatening letters with racial and sexu
said at a day-long conference on hate crimes.
ally explicit content were sent to a minority
"But we should do more We should make
stall member beginning Oct. 14. the stu
out current laws tougher to include all hale
dents said. Harassing phone calls and a ra
crimes that cause physical harm. We must
cial epitaph written on the office door of the
prohibit crimes committed because of the
targeted staff member have followed.
victim s sexual orientation, gender or dis
ability," Clinton said.
crimes.
He said he would support legislation be
"One is just ignorance and the fear it
ing introduced in Congress that would ex
breeds," Clinton said. "We see that a lot with
tend the federal law on hate crimes to in
the gay and lesbian issues now. where people
clude violence against homosexuals, gen
are at least unaware that they have ever had a
der-motivated attacks and attacks on the
family member or friend or someone who is
disabled.
homosexual and they arc literally terrified."
The new measure also targets adults who
Beyond ignorance, Clinton said some
recruit juveniles to commit hate crimes and
people commit such acts because of "an
authorizes more money and law enforce
almost pathological need to look down on
ment personnel to fight this type of crime.
somebixly else" and others who have been
In addition to backing the hate crimes bill
brutalized themselves "return brutality with
in Congress. Clinton set up a national net
brutality."
P
Young women want
bus safety improved
eenage women expressed their safety concerns with Tri-Mei officials during a
community forum last week. The group Sisters in Portland Impacting Real
Issues fogether (SPIRIT) say sexual harassment, domestic violence, racist.
sexist and homophobic attacks are seen as more ot a problem than guns and gang violence
T
Dan Rather is staying at CBS. The
veteran anchorman has signed a contract
extension that will reportedly keep him at
CBS News until 2002. ending a public
flirtation with CNN. No details of the
contract were given. Rather has anchored
the "CBS Evening News" since Walter
Cronkite's retirement in 1981.
Microsoft asks judge to
toss suit
Microsoft hits asked a federal judge to
dismiss a suit accusing the computer gi
ant of trying to corner the market on
Internet browsers. In a response to the
Justice Department suit. Microsoft law
yers argued that the government has known
since before Windows 95 went on the
market that the company intended to in
clude Internet software as a component
of the computer operating system.
C ontinued to page BX
Hate crime
fight escalates
Poll show split on au pair
A majority of Americans agree with a
judge's decision to reduce the second-
degree murder conviction of English au
pair Louise Woodward to manslaughter,
but fewer approve of her immediate re
lease, polls found. In fact, a USA Today-
C’NN-Gallup poll found the same per
centage backing the reduced sentence as
opposed her immediate release - 52 per
cent in each case. Woodward was re
leased after being sentenced to a penalty
ot lime served when Judge Hiller Zohel
reduced her conviction from second de
gree murder to involuntary manslaugh
ter. But the prosecution plans an appeal,
and the judge has ordered her to remain in
Massachusetts
Haynes, Jr., ol Allen Temple
Christian Methodist Episcopal
Church. He noted that "Both
defacto and dejure laws have fo
cused on the black man and
women.”
"W hites and blacks were
singled out in the Constitution
for disparate treatment," agreed
Margaret Deirdon O ’Hartigan,
noting the "moral and economic
debt this country owes” to Afri
can-Americans.
"Even though slavery ended in
the mid 1800s, a lot of us are
still enslaved and have to go to
the opposite race tor our needs,"
said Balinda Beltra. She won
dered how long the discussion
about reparations w ould continue
before it becomes a reality.
Propes suggested that each
person at the various forums
would gain new information,
seeds would be planted and the
dialogue would continue.
Hunter said information from
the forums would be forwarded
to area city and county officials.
Forms of suggested repara
tions included money, land or
homes, a "Maishall Plan" for
oppressed minorities, a "Ol Bill”
with low interest loans and a free
college education.
Jackson said land would be
"appreciable” and provide finan
cial growth potential. Willie
Williams, a visitor from Michi
gan. argued that “White folks can
get money and land hack from
you, so give us something no one
can take away -- education.”
Young women who find sexual harassment and relationship violence on Tri Met
[ document their concerns at a community forum.
Photos by M. Washington)
Portland students
speak out on campus
hate incidents
A
t