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Opinion articles do not
necessarily reflect or represent the
views o f The Portland Observer
O pinion
Supreme Court
and Civil Rights
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Marc H. Morial, president and
chief executive officer o f the N a
tional Urban League, issued the fo l
lowing statement regarding the res
ignation o f Supreme Court Justice
Sandra Day O'Connor:
Throughout her tenure on the
Court, Justice Sandra Day O ’Connor
demonstrated independence in her
decision-making that often led her to
cast the all-important “swing vote’ in
cases o f concern to us.
On occasion, Justice O ’Connor
sometimes saved the day by voting
to uphold civil rights protections, as
Marc H. Morial
she did when casting the deciding
vote upholding the University o f M ichigan’s Law School affirmative
action program. We thank Justice O ’Connor for her service to the nation.
The selection o f Justice O ’Connor’s successor will affect us all for the
next generation and beyond.
I urge President Bush to consult with senators of both parties as well
as the leadership of the nation’s civil rights organizations to ensure the
appointment of a qualified, distinguished and independent justice who
will respect and uphold our civil rights laws.
Troubling Inequalities Plague Many Americans
Fighting for
positive change
by U.S.
R ep . A i . G reks
As we in Congress consider
spending bills that will determine
the course of this great nation over
the upcoming fiscal year, 1 find the
continuing inequalities that plague
many Americans troubling:
It is unacceptable that African
Americans have a 10.6 percent un
employment rate which is double
the national average. It is unac
ceptable that African Americans
experience poverty rates that are
almost twice the national average.
It is unacceptable that only 49 per
cent o f African Americans own
homes compared
to 69 percent na
tionwide, and it is
unacceptable that
A frican A m eri
cans are twice as
likely to be denied
a mortgage and
two times more
likely to become
re c ip ie n ts
of
predatory loans.
The mission of the Congres
sional Black Caucus is to eliminate
disparities facing the African Ameri
can community; one of the most
pressing of which is housing dis
crimination.
African Americans are two times
more likely to be denied home loans
ing discrimination that made through Congress to put an
continue to fuel dis end to a practice that discriminates
against people based on race, color,
parities.
Recently, I along sexual orientation and ethnicity, as
with Representatives well as disability.
Have no doubt that I, along with
Barbara Lee, A lcee
H a stin g s and R aul my colleagues in the CBC, will con
Grijalva successfully tinue our fight to eradicate these
offered my first piece glaring disparities and bring about
o f legislation that will positive change.
- Congressman At Green
Neither I nor the Congressional
provide an additional
$7.7 million dollars to Black Caucus will rest until invidious
and of those that are approved, nority counterparts to become re com bat housing discrim ination. disparities in all aspects of life are
These funds will help educate con done away with, including, but not
m ore than 29 percent receive cipients o f higher cost loans.
These sobering statistics don't sumers on the trappings o f hous limited to, housing, employment,
subprime loans.
More recently, the CBC held a fully convey or represent the true ing discrimination and provide re education, and discrimination.
AI Green represents the 9th Con
hearing that uncovered data which magnitude of our housing crisis - sources to investigate such claims.
This measure received strong gressional District in Texas and is
confirmed that African American many in the minority community
and Hispanic borrowers are several are faced with targeted practices, bipartisan support, which gives me a member o f the Congressional
times more likely as their non-mi such as predatory lending and hous confidence that progress can be Black Caucus.
The mission of the Congressional
Black Caucus is to eliminate
disparities facing the African American
community; one o f the most pressing o f
which is housing discrimination.
Funding Solutions to Gun Violence
by J udge
G reg M athis
One of the biggest divisions in
the discussion about gun violence
is the question of prevention ver
sus prosecution. The law enforce
ment approach to America’s gun
epidemic is part of the solution, but
fails to acknowledge that gun-re
lated deaths, like automobile-related
ones, could be prevented.
At the end of the day, this is a
public health issue, not a criminal
one and, as with other public health
crises, the federal governm ent
should take a more prominent role
in advocating for and funding gun
violence prevention programs.
According to the Centers for
Œ1,c ^îortlanù ÛDbscruer Established 1970
USPS 9 59-680
_____________________________________
Disease Control and Prevention,
there are about 5(),(XX) gun-related
deaths in the U.S. each year.
Roughly half of these victims are
African-American. Black males be
tween the ages of 15-24 have the
highest firearm homicide rate of any
demographic group. In addition,
approximately 75,(XX) Americans
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Effective prevention programs
can spare both the lives of the
victim and the perpetrator.
suffer gun-
related inju
rie s a n n u
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Beyond these startling statis
tics, very little is known about gun
violence. If policymakers were
aware of any patterns associated
with gun deaths - for example,
whether or not abused children are
more likely to become violent of
fenders or if it is more likely that a
teenage boy will be shot between 4
day - perhaps they’d be able to
develop and run effective preven
tion programs.
CDC has developed the National
Violent Death Reporting System, a
national, state-based system that
monitors violent deaths. NVDRS
helps identify potential risk fac-
m ay have
contributed to the incident and de
scribes the offender and their rela
tionship to the victim.
Judge Greg Mathis is chairman
o f the Rainbow PUSH-Excel Board
and a national board member o f
the Southern Christian Leadership
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_____________THE_____________
SPINACOLUMN
An ongoing senes of questions and answers about America’s natural healing profession
Dr. Billy R. Flowers
Part 15. Back Pain: Why “oh, my aching back”
has become such a popular phrase.
Q: I always know when my back other component of what we call nature intended, we Chiroprac-
the vertebrae are not moving the j tors not only relieve your back
hurts. But I rarely know why.
A: Statistics tell us 80% of all men, way nature intended. Other factors pain symptoms, we remove the
women, and children will experi include muscle spasm and disc cause. Without drugs. Without
ence back pain in their lives. Chi herniation. O f course, in addition to surgery. Without doubt. Call our
ropractors can also tell you why. knowing you have back pain, chi office for an appointment today to
There are, for example, several ropractors also know how to make find out how Chiropractic can help
m echanical m alfunctions that itgoaw ay. By eliminatingthecom- your “aching back.” O r if you
cause back pain. Among them ponents of the subluxation com have any questions about your
are: Direct pinching on the nerve. plex and allowing the central ner health, just call us at the number
This is the reason many people vous system to function the way below.
give for their back pain, but in fact,
“pinched nerves" only account
for about 10% of it. Edema (swell
2124 N.E. Hancock Street, Portland, Oregon 97212
ing) This occurs from inflamma
tion due to simple strain or sub
Phone: (503) 287-5504
luxation. Fixation. This is yet an-
Flowers' Chiropractic Office
»
Annual African- American
Community Symposium
í
“ 'WIV/AIÛS
Featuring Guest Speakers:
Ron Herndon
Hr. W ilbert Jordan
Special Guest Appearance bq former
Portland Trailblazer Greq S m ith
Friday, J u ly 15 6 PM-9 PM
Saturday, Ju ly 16 10AM - 4PM
S e lf E n h a n ce m e n t, Inc.
3 9 2 0 N. K e rb y A v e
D is c u s s io n s Ct W o rk s h o p s
E n te rta in m e n t: S E l Youth
P e rfo rm a n e rs
O n s ite T esting : Free a n d
C o n fid e n tia l Sat 1 2 - 3 .3 0 p m
D e lic io u s F o o d
Com e o n ! J o in u s ! R a ise a w a re n e s s !
H e lp e d u c a te th e A fric a n -A m e ric a n
c o m m u n ity a b o u t H / V a n d A ID S .
A t l a c tiv itie s T R E E !
For m ore info Christy H aufTSO ? 249-9721 e r t 2 5 9
S p o n s o rs : The L in k s , A b b o tt L a b o ra to rie s , B a s ic R ig h ts
O re g o n , B ro th e r to B ro th e r, C a sca de AIDS P ro je c t,
The D a rry l! C o rp o ra tio n /ln n e rg y Inc., DHS, G ilead,
L o ve M akes a F a m ily, M u ltn o m a h C o u n ty H ealth Dept,
O ur H ouse, SEl