Page 22 3-Iortlanh ODhsrrner July 13, 2011 L aw J ustice — ------------------------------------------------------------------I W H I . - ■I.WII. ■ . Ill I Judge Orders Parish Bennette Jr. to Remain in Jail M ultnomah County Judge R i­ chard C. Baldwin ruled Thursday that Parrish Bennette Jr. remain held without bail on murder and m anslaughter charges in the al­ leg ed k illin g o f 1 4 -y ea r-o ld Yashanne Vaughn, who has been m issing since March 14. The hearing had resumed on Thursday, July 7, after a full day of testimony on June 24. Prosecutor Brian Davidson said Bennette, 16, told his father he shot Vaughn on accident, before he got rid of her body. Evidence, however, has led stakeholders to believe her death was not an accident. Blood splatter evidence found Door Close continued from fron t within Bennette’s room suggested they said the search will continue strong presence and voice against Vaughn had been likely struck or to find Y ashanee’s missing body, the person believed to have killed beaten before she was shot and so they can bring her home. Yashanee. killed, which Davidson argued The family wishes to thank the Portland Police said the inves­ coun ter’s B ennette’s statem ent District A ttorney’s office. Judge tig a tio n is o n g o in g to fin d that her death was an accident. Baldwin, Portland Police, the City Vaugn ’ s body, and they urge any­ A lth o u g h the fa m ily o f of Portland, the media, and all of one with further inform ation to Yashanne Vaughn said they are Y ashanee’s friends who stood call Crime Stoppers at 503-823- happy he has been denied bail. with them at the trial to have a HELP. Film on Blacks in Hawaii Seeznin’s Bar and where shots were almost immediately fired. Lounge, which Three patrons of the premises of were shot. opened last March, One of the Patrons was found to be deceased at the scene and two had serious injuries that has shut its doors to required hospitalization.” business after restrictions were Thompson said he has surveillance foot­ The election of Senator Barack Obama as age, which he has given the Portland Police, placed on the bar as U.S. President in 2008 brought new atten­ of the night of Irving's death showing allega­ a result o f the fatal tion to the Hawaii of his birth and the people tions of violence on his property that night shooting o f James who live there. are “Lies.” “U ” Irving on June Although the latest Census shows that "With the OLCC there are a lot of non­ 2 6 in the parking lot 40,000 African Americans are residing in truths,” said Thompson. “Insinuating we had across the street. the islands, many of those are military per­ fights occur when we never had any violence sonnel and their dependents. The civilian take place here or on the premises.” population has been invisible in the public Although the press release sent out to eye, in history books, and in the traditional media about the recent restrictions stated the media. incident took place in the parking lot of Such obscu­ Seeznin s, the shootings actually occurred in rity defies the a parking lot across the street, he said. a c h ie v e m e n ts on community livability considerations when provided food handlers cards out of pocket According to the OLCC, the restrictions guiding alcohol beverage system growth. and accomplish­ for 23 kids throughout the community, as well are a result of a number of “serious and Some of the required restrictions for the as one young adult received a job doing sign ments over the dangerous incidents” that have occurred on businessThompson said were already regu­ language for the Police Activity League, he tw o hun d red the premises since the license was received in larly enforced, including a wand to search said. years A frican early March, including a fight on April 20, people and their bags before they enter the Americans have All different walks of life visit the bar, which they said led to a death after those establishment, as well as age verification lived in the is­ Thompson said, but the majority of custom­ involved left the premises. Arrests were also checks. lands of Hawaii, ers of Seeznin’s are African American indi­ made on May 20 for parole violations. The other restrictions, however, Thomp­ viduals from throughout the community. located in the The Director of Public Safety for the OLCC son said are impossible for him to adhere to middle of the Pacific. “We have families and all kinds of people Rudy Williams said even when the incident while maintaining his new establishment. who frequent here, but people think when­ Holding Fast the Dream: Hawaii's Afri­ occurs down the street, across the street, or Some include anyone who exits the building ever black folk come together in a group they can American Experience is a 90 minute around the corner from the establishment, the after 10:30 p.m. will not be allowed re-entry, are a gang,” he said. “I believe race has documentary film that was selected for licensees are still held responsible. "The lic­ and the bar must be closed by 11:30 p.m. something to do with this.” screening at the San Diego Black Film Fes­ ensee is responsible for everything inside or Further, they required Thompson to imple­ tival in 2011 and for the Hawaii International “Putting the restrictions on the bar was outside the premise,” he said. ment a dress code. Film Festival in 2010. not intended to close the business down,” The cook at Seeznin ' s barjam es Mcmi llan, “Anyone wearing gang-related clothing said Christie Scott, the public Affairs special­ First welcom ed by royalty o f the Ha­ however, said, “You can’t just stop people will be refused entry,” said the OLCC in a waiian Kingdom in 1810, blacks became a ist for the OLCC. “We are working off the from coming in here, and it is not our job to press release, but the immediate order ex­ part o f the m ostly Polynesian popula­ police report by trained officials.” crack down on the gangs.” plained the details, which read “a person tion. Many interm arried with the local Williams agreed. Before the violence happened across the wearing clothing associated with gang mem­ population and after W orld W ar II the “It was never our intent not to allow him to street everyone within the Seeznin's seemed bership or affiliation, including but not lim­ black population increased with a small be successful,” he said. “People don’t under­ to be in high-spirits, he said. “The mood was ited to athletic jerseys (with the exception of group o f professionals consisting of stand a liquor license is a privilege, but when good in here.” game day attire for local events) tom or ragged it is linked to public danger, you must be held teachers, doctors, law yers, civil servants Minutes before Irving was shot, Mcmillan clothing, casual sweat pants or track suits, accountable.” and elected officials. was cooking Irving and his family chicken head wear of any kind, or known bike wear or Dr, Miles M. Jackson, executive pro­ Williams explained, “we would be remised while they celebrated a birthday. “Then he street wear attire, including color will be re­ ducer and retired faculty member of the if we did not take the actions we took and walked outside, and they killed him,” he said. fused entry to the premises.” University of Hawaii and the author of two would be abdicating our role and responsibil­ “It’s just sad about him (Irving) dying,” he Thompson, while wearing a maroon track ity to make the environment safe.” books and articles on Blacks in Hawaii, says said. “They are trying to blame the bar. Not jacket, said his clothing would be considered that the film tells the story that has been Thompson, however, said putting restric­ trying— they blamed the bar.” gang-related by the OLCC, and he asked what tions on bars and different places does not largely untold - until now. Thompson said, for the community to blame does this help? Jackson teamed up with award winning get to the root of the problem, which is there the bar for the violence is unfounded be­ “I don’t like being labeled a gang bar,” he is a very large gang and gun violence problem filmmaker Steve Okino to make the first-ever cause, unfortunately, in Portland there have said. visual presentation of the achievements in Portland Oregon. been several murders since September, and According to Thompson, Seeznin’s is a and struggles of the Black community in “OLCC is not in touch with what is going no one has been arrested. place for everyone within the community. Hawaii. on within the community,” he said. “But they According to the OLCC, the organization On June 16 the business held a Youth are throwing down the law without any facts To purchase a copy of the DVD or for has a Public Safety Principle, which focuses Employment fair at Seeznin’s, where they or truths of what took place.” more details, visit holdingthedream.org. Obscurity defies achievements