March 8, 2006
Page B 6
Speaking up for Immigrant Justice
about com passion. But groups
pushing for a crackdown on illegal
immigration accuse them of trying
to bolster their flock by catering to
Hispanics, who comprise the ma­
jority of undocumented newcom­
ers.
U.S. and Mexican bishops is­
sued a statem ent on migration
in2OO3 saying that "more powerful
economic nations, which have the
ability to protect and feed their resi­
dents, have a stronger obligation
to accommodate migration flows.”
The bishops also said that na­
tions were obligated to respect the
dignity of migrants “regardless of
their legal status.”
Cardinal’s plea: ‘Make
room’ for newcomers
(AP) — Catholic leaders have
launched a “Justice for Immigrants"
campaign, appealing to President
Bush and congressional leaders for
a legalization program, sharply criti­
cizing a bill passed by the U.S.
House of Representatives in De­
cember to tighten border controls.
When Cardinal Roger Mahony
of Los Angeles last week called on
Roman Catholic leaders to embrace
immigrants regardless of legal sta­
tus, he wasn’t just reiterating the
church's long tradition of reaching
out to the downtrodden.
Mahony and other U.S. Catholic
bishops are increasingly weighing
into the debate over what to do
about the roughly 11 million illegal
immigrants living in the United
States - a development that’s being
met with criticism from groups push-
ing for tougher immigration law en­
forcement.
Among other things, the bill -
now before the Senate - would ob­
ligate churches and other social
organizations to ask immigrants for
legal documentation before provid­
ing assistance.
A handful of bishops have de­
nounced it. Mahony, the leader of
the nation's largest archdiocese,
went a step further. He promised to
defy it if it’s passed into law.
“I would say to all priests, dea­
cons and members of the church
that we are not going to observe
this law,” Mahony said after an
Ash Wednesday Mass calling on
Catholics to “make room” for immi­
grants.
Church leaders say they are sim­
ply adhering to Catholic teachings
<
%
Cardinal Roger Mahony marks
the forehead of parishioners
during Ash Wednesday ser­
vices March 1 at the Cathedral
o f Our Lady of the Angels in
Los Angeles. (AP photo)
Thousands March for Immigrants in Portland
Many protest postions
of GOP candidates
(A P) — A b o iste ro u s but p a n ic o r g a n iz a tio n s , la b o r
peaceful march of about 4,000 unions, church and social groups.
They were opposed to pend­
dem onstrators opposed to pend­
ing stricter immigration legisla­ ing legislation in Congress that
tio n d ru m m e d and c h a n te d would bring stiff increases in mi­
through downtown Portland on gration enforcem ent. They also
Saturday, bringing together His­ protested the position of Ron
S axton, the fo rm er P o rtland aired views along the same lines.
The number of illegal im m i­
School Board member and attor­
ney who is seeking the Republi­ grants in Oregon is not certain
can gubernatorial nomination in and probably varies by season.
Some estimates put the number in
M ay’s primary.
“Saxton, we pick your food,” the 150,000 range, part of an esti­
mated 11 million in the nation.
read some signs.
Saturday’s dem onstrators pa­
Saxton has said that as gover­
nor he would stop supplying state raded for an amnesty, sim ilar to
benefits and driver’s licenses to one granted in 1986, or other
people living in Oregon illegally moves that would let them stay in
and has pledged "zero tolerance.” the United States legally.
“The House bill, which passed
His tw o G OP opponents have
Identity Theft
Suspect on Camera
Vancouver Police need help identifying this
woman who presented a stolen credit card to
make a purchase at Sears at the Vancouver
Westfield Mall on Jan. 26. The photo was cap­
tured from surveillance video. The woman is a
suspect in over $50,000 in theft due to credit
card fraud. Anyone with information is urged to
contact Detective Troy Price at 360-735-8826.
Toxic Riverfront Restored
continued
from Metro
and black hawthorn w i 11 em erge,
with a lush understory o f sw am p
rose, O regon grape, red -flo w ­
erin g currant and other native
shrubs.
T hese plants and trees will
provide food for native animals,
and hopefully, peaceful natural
areas for people to enjoy as well.
M ikell O ’M ealy, o u tre a c h
coordinator w ith the O regon D e­
p a rtm e n t o f E n v iro n m e n ta l
Q uality, said the neighborhood
volunteers w ere vital in m aking
the plantings a success.
“A special thank to all o f you
w ho planted trees,” she said.
Individuals and groups inter­
ested in touring the site this spring
and sum m er to check on the
trees and talk about potential
future uses for the property are
w elcom e to contact O ' M ealy at
503-229-6590.
last year and is now in the Senate,
w ould^beef up border security
with the help of local law enforce­
ment and military technology and
im pose to ugher penalties for
sm uggling and re-entry.
It makes drunken driving a de­
portable offense and make un­
lawful presence in the United
States a felony.
It also would require all em ­
ployers to submit Social Security
numbers and other information
to a national data base to verify
the legal status o f workers.
Some predicted the bill in the
Senate would make it a crime
to help illegal immigrants or pro­
vide for them in church soup
kitchens.
“A crim e versus people is a
crim e versus G od," said David
Leslie, executive director o f the
Ecumenical Council of Oregon.
"It undercuts what it means to be
a part of a caring w orld.”
CRIME STOPPERS
Wanted Robbery Suspect
On Feb. 7, 20-year-old Robin
Lamont Thompson, and another
man, robbed two people at a house
in the 4600 block of Southeast
Taylor Street.
The victim s w ere pistol-
whipped, bound with duct tape,
and one of them was shot when he
tried to get away.
Thompson was indicted by a
Multnomah County Grand Jury
and has outstanding warrants for
multiple counts of robbery, assault,
kidnapping and burglary with a total
bail of $287,000.
He is about 5' 10”, 150 pounds,
with black hair and brown eyes and
has long braids. He has lived in
Northeast Portland, but his current
address is unknown. Thompson
should be considered armed and
dangerous.
D e Ve c -
lives would
like to iden­
tify the sec­
ond man in
Robin Lamont
t h e s e
Thompson
crimes.
He is described as a black male
between 18and25-years-oldwitha
stocky build. He is about 5’ 10” with
short hair or even a shaved head.
Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward o f up to $1,000 for information, reported to Crime
Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in this case, or any unsolved felony, and you may remain
anonymous. Call Crime Stoppers at (503) 823-HELP (4357).
Teens Attack, Curfew Considered
( AP) — Police police said they
are increasing patrols in northeast
Port land after a couple riding their
bicycles to a friend's house were
confronted and attacked by more
than two dozen teenagers.
Jason Maxfield, 27, said he at­
tempted to avoid the group on
Northeast Garfield Avenue be­
tween Going and Skidmore streets
by riding up the sidewalk, but he
could not escape. Several rushed
toward him and pushed him into a
wall. He fell to the ground, and
when he looked up, found at least when a patrol car started to ap­
proach.
five young teens, ages 13 to 16.
Portland Police Chief Derrick
“We need some bikes,” they
Foxworth said there have been simi­
laughed and yelled.
Maxfield said when he reached lar cases reported recently, with
to grab his bike, he was punched groups of teens attacking bicyclists
repeatedly in the face and head and and pedestrians. He said police are
kicked in the back and sides. After considering special curfew crack­
his wife, Julie, yelled for the group downs and other enforcement to
to leave, one boy waved what ap­ address the problem.
Northeast Precinct Cmdr. Bret
peared to be a gun at her.
“We live in your neighborhood, Smith thinks some of the incidents
please don’t hurt us,” Maxfield happen when teenagers leave an
pleaded to the boys, who scattered event and feel strength in numbers.
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