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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 2000)
Septem ber 13, 2000 Page A 4 (Tfye ^lortlanò (ßhsvruer ® Opinion Uortlonà Articles do not necessarily reflect or represent the views of (Tlje P o r t la n b (D bsertirr Another look at juvenile (in) justice (Lite P o rtla u b © bsvruer s A HO.NAI s h k e t a b s i o USPS 959-680 Established 1 9 7 0 STAFF E d it o r C in h ie f , P U B L IS H E R C harles H. W ashington E d i T o r L a rry J. Jackson, Sr. B usiN E Ss M a n a g e r G a ry A n n T a y lo r A sst . P ublisher R es , J esse J a ( kson Forty-six years after desegregation ofour nation's public schools, stating data shows that African American stu d e n ts have su ffe re d disproportionately from suspension, expulsions and corral punishment in U.S. classrooms. Writes Dr. Leroy Purnell, dean o f law at Northern Illinois University: “While the disciplinary process in a public school is not a criminal trail, it is one in which the possible sanctions justifies a significant level o f due process protection.” In other words: Black kids are being introduced early to a c rim in a l p ro c e ss as ja il intervention, rather than education intervention, becomes the norm in American’s school discipline process. It is no leap o f imagination to surmise that students who are pushed out of schools without an education safety net are more likely to indulge in antisocial behavior, which can lead to arrests and m ore unw anted pregnancies which can lead to fewer life options. B ecau se o f d ra c o n ia n drue sentencing laws and the nasty residue o f the U.S. “w ar on drug users,” 13 percent o f black men, compared to just 2 percent o f white men, are disenfranchised from the right to vote thanks to a tag o f “convicted felon.” Even more disturbing is that nearly one in three A frican American males in age group 20-29 is under criminal justice supervision on any given day, including being in prisoner jail, on probation or parole. The stats for female inmates, most o f whom are also first time, non-violent offenders are equally disturbing. Today, the 1965 Voting Rights Act cannot protect our youth from losing voting privileges because o f felony convictions, not like skin color that disenfranchised their grandfathers two generations before them. Who needs a poll tax, when you’ve got rap sheets? A new Columbia University study, “ The Color o f justice,” now reveals that African American youths are more than twice as likely as their white counterparts to be transferred out o f a juvenile justice system and tried as adults. Said the co-author, “ the imbalances this study reveals are stark, vast and deeply disturbing,” com m ented Dan M acallair, the associate director o f Colum bia’s Center for Violence Research and prevention.” ... There is a double On the separation of Church and State standard: throw kids o f color behind bars, but rehabilitate white kids who commit comparable crimes.” It should be noted that in Downer’s Grove, IL just last week, Caucasian students twice took a bomb to school and still avoidedjail. The judge said he was “troubled... but posed no threat to other students.” In Decatur, six boys were expelled for two years, without the option o f alternative schooling, because o f 16-second fist fight. They will be prosecuted this year for their alleged participation. B efore o f R e v .Je sse Ja c k so n intervened, these boys were kicked into the streets to sink or swim while they served their: sentence. InCalifomia, Proposition 21 is another example ofdraconian juvenile policy attempting to become law. Ifapproved by voters this March, the measure would allow prosecutors, instead of judges, to decide whether a juvenile be tried as an adult for a violent crime. Said Jackson, “It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that the U.S. system of punishment isn’t about crime or justice, but rather is about social co n tro l... The hum an costs are incalculable. Young people arrested for drugs are brutalized once in jail. Prison becomes their university. Its lessons are not uplifting This nation touts itself as being leader among all industrialized counties. It w ill now lead the w o rld in incarcerations when by Valentine’s D ay, an estim ated tw o m illion American will be locked behind bars, 500,000 more than in China. This number o f majority black and brown people, join an estimated five million other U.S citizens who are now on probation. FRESH Taste th e Tradition Buy fresh salmon and other fish Tuesdays thru Sundays until m id -S ep tem b er, at sites along the Columbia. For a fr e e b ro c h u re with sales locations and a Salmon Heritage Trails map and guide: 1-888-289-1855 o r w w w .critfc.org. Bring ice and a cooler to keep your fish fresh Most sales are cash only • Ask fo r a receipt Michael Leighton C opy E d it o r Joy Ramos C r e a t iv e D ir e c t o r Shawn S trah an 4 7 4 7 NE M a r tin L uth er K ing, Jr. Blvd. P o rtla n d , OR 9 7 2 1 1 5 0 3 -2 8 8 -0 0 3 3 F ax 5 0 3 - 2 8 8 - 0 0 1 5 e-m ail new s@ p o rtlan do b server.co m subscription@portfcndobseiver.com ad s@ portlandobserver.com P ostmaster : Send address changes to Portland Observer PO Box 313 7 Portland, OR 9 7 2 0 8 Periodical Postage paid in Portland, OR Subscriptions are $60.00 per year D E A D L IN E S FOR ALL SUBMITTED MATERIALS: ARTICLES: Monday by 5 p . m . 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N Y . and T h e W est Coast Black Publishers Association • Serving Portland and Vancouver <« The Supreme Court, seat o f all American wisdom, recently knocked down a Texas law which had allowed public prayer, after an affirmative vote by the student body, at football games. They ruled that such a practice would promote the religious beliefs o f some students over others. The Supreme Court reached this decision in compliance (as they saw it) with the First Amendment to the Constitution, which provides, in part, that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment o f religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” In the earliest Civies classes I can recall, it was made clear to me, and remains just as clear to this day, that the intent o f our forefathers (and, presumably, our foremothers as well) was to prevent the establishment o f an official state religion. This was one o f the conditions that prompted them to declare independence from the British Crown, where if you were not an Anglican, you were both politically and spiritually incorrect. But clearly, there was no intended separation o f GOD and state. The suggestion that this Amendment was directed against God is belied by both the very first two sentences and the very last one o f the Declaration of Independence itself. This revered document preceded the Constitution by eleven years and the first ten amendments (our Bill o f Rights) by fully fifteen. The first sentence refers to the “the Laws o f Nature and ofN ature’s God,” and is followed by what is, perhaps, its most familiar language: “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights.” The Declaration closes with “a firm Reliance on the Protection o f divine Providence,” leaving no room for doubt about the fact that its authors wanted God, but not any particular religious persuasion, to be very much a part o f life in these United States. Add to this the fact that our coinage and currency, including those funny looking new bills, proclaim that “IN GOD WE TRUST," Consider, too, the opening prayers that are intoned in just about all legislative bodies and judicial proceedings at every level o f government. And how about those invocations directed to the Almighty at banquets and other public gatherings? What o f the reference in the second verse o f our National Anthem to “our heaven-rescued land" and the almost ritual “and God bless America following presidential speeches...even those o f W. J. Clinton, hardly a poster boy for godliness (or moral cleanliness, for that matter). One wonders why it’s okay to sing “God Bless America” and pledge allegiance to the flag o P ’one nation under God at the same ball games in Texas where direct petitioning is now verboten. And what do you think those young jocks are up to in that pre-game huddle, right in front o f a crowd that might include a number o f Atheists? Truth to tell, kiddies, God is on the American scene to stay, albeit there is disagreement among us on the Almighty’s location, intention, discipline, vindictiveness and even gender. Almost all o f us feel that there is a Higher Authority, over us AND the non-believers. Sure, it might be awkward for a few anti-God folks when prayer becomes public. Admittedly, it may make it necessary that they think o f godless things for a few seconds, but it should be no more difficult for them to divert than it is for those o f us whose skin crawls when rock stars shred the “Star Spangled Banner" with their bizarre vocal tricks and shrill deviations. I figure it’spart of the price I pay for living in a democracy. Mind you. I’m appalled when, at a non-sectarian ftinction of any kind, the speaker invokes divine assistance “through Christ, Our Lord,” or “in The M aster's name," either o f which is almost as couthless an affront to non- C hristians as saying “you Jew s and M uslim s are on your ow n!” Anyway, while most o f the righteous leftists o f the Fourth Estate exult over this latest Supreme Court assault on common sense and majority sentiment, I find it difficult to discern any groundswell (or even minor tremor) of resentment in the public arena over asking God, whoever and wherever He, She or It may be in the minds and hearts o f those in attendance, to look with favor on the proceedings, the participants and the observers. Including, o f course, those who - despite holding that He, or Her, or It even ex ists - find G od to be a threat to th e ir c o n stitu tio n a l rights. To them, this message: Cut us a little slack, guys and gals. 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