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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 17, 2004)
Page A2 (Eljc JInrtlanh ©bseruer March 17,2004 Chicago Fire Department Radio Slurs Bring Call for Change Accused of culture of racism (AP) — A string o f racial slurs bro ad cast o v er C h ic a g o ’s fire departm ent radios has City Hall in an uproar, and the m ayor is calling on firefig h ters to break their silence and identify the culprits. City Council members, mean while, are dem anding reforms to end what they say is a culture of racism in the departm ent. Amid the controversy, a black fire battalion chief received a death threat, and an outspoken black alderm an said that he, too, had been warned against criticiz ing the departm ent. At least five racial slurs have been heard over the departm ent’s ra d io s sin c e F e b ru a ry . T he firefighter accused o f making the first slur Feb. 2 was given a 90- day suspension and was trans ferred. The departm ent's internal affairs division is investigating the other slurs. M ayor Richard M. Daley has called those responsible “cow ards,” and urged firefighters to identify the offenders “because this is not good for their profes sion.” At a City Council m eeting last W e d n e sd a y , A ld e rw o m a n Freddrenna Lyle proposed the city create a citizens’ oversight board for the fire department. The mayor called it a good idea. “ I think there’s a family atm o sp h e re th at m akes it alm o st incestual,” Lyle said. “We want to change the whole attitude in the departm ent." Alderman Ed Smith received an anonym ous postcard last week that read: “W hen the riot you are trying to start begins you better make sure all the fire fighters around your house are black — so you get the flames out.” And Alderwoman Emma Mitts said she received racist voice mails after dem anding the transfer o f a firefighter accused of a racist com ment. In addition. B attalion C hief Nicholas Russell, president o f the African American Fire Fighters League of Chicago, recently re ceived a threat that talked about a battalion chief being shot and left in a shallow grave. The departm ent has a history o f racial issues and court inter vention. The federal governm ent sued over alleged discrim inatory hir ing and prom otion in 1973, a time when blacks and H ispanics made up fewer than 5 percent o f the uniform ed em ployees. Court or ders settling the case required Chicago to hire and promote more minorities. Store Stays Open as Moving Plans Made Ken H atch, the o w n er o f A in sw o rth D rug, 3002 N.E. Ainsworth St., wants customers to know he is open for business and will remain open as plans inch for ward to move to another location. Hatch estimates it will be the end of May before he is ready to move to a building being renovated at 7027 N. Interstate. He said the Ainsworth store would remain open in the meantime. The pharmacist has operated Ainsworth Drug for 11 years, but the store has served the Concordia Neighborhood since the 1940s, pro viding a convenient location to many long time residents. Correction: TD Jakes Due in April E v a n g e lis t T .D . J a k e s is n o t s c h e d u le d to m a k e a p r e s e n ta tio n th is w e e k at a P o r t la n d c o n f e r e n c e h o n o r in g b lack w o m a n , b u t in ste a d w ill b e th e f e a tu r e d a ttr a c tio n d u r in g P o r tla n d C ru s a d e at M e m o ria l C o lis e u m on A p ril 2 a n d 3. T he d ates correct in fo rm a tion in last w e e k ’s issue about the A frican A m erican C h am ber o f C o m m erce’s annual event titled "N ev er U nderestim ate the P ow er o f a B lack W o m an ” at the O regon C on v en tio n C en ter on Friday, M arch 19. T he p o w er o f a black w om an co n feren ce will include keynote s p e a k e r P a tr ic ia R u s s e ll M cC loud, nationally-noted ora tor, e d u cato r and m otivational speak er, recognized by O prah W infrey and m any publications from coast-to-coast. T ickets for both events are limited. For more information,call Roy Jay at the African A m erican C ham ber o f C om m erce at 503- 244-5794, extension 45. Members o f the Congressional Black Caucus, including caucus chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md. (left) and Rep. Major Owens, D-N. Y. (right) pledge their support Thursday to John Kerry, D-Mass., saying they plan to work closely with the presidential candidate and involve minorities in his campaign. (AP photo) Black Caucus Supports Kerry (A P) - Black m em bers o f n o rities in his effo rt to unseat as he spent the day on C apitol a fte r the m eeting w ith Kerry C o n g re ss e x p e c t to c o n fe r P resident B ush, an official o f H ill sh o rin g up h is su p p o rt that caucus m em bers w ere en re g u la rly w ith D e m o c ra tic the C o ngressional Black C a u am ong c o n g re ssio n a l D em o cou rag ed “this will be an o n p re sid e n tia l can d id ate John cus said T hursday. crats. going relationship. ...I tis c le a r K erry and help him plan c am K erry met p riv ately for 45 Rep. E lijah E. C um m ings. D- we are all about the business paign strategy and involve m i m inutes w ith caucus m em bers M d., ch air o f the caucus, said o f building A m erica.” Ask ö fD ft: teal People, Real Advice An advice column known lin ts /earless approach to reality based subjects! ear Deanna! 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