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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2011)
ÿortlanh (Obstruer December 7, 2011 Page 5 Ship Christened USNS Medgar Evers Navy honors slain NAACP activist by D erek T urner Evers may be best remem bered for his fight to secure vot ing rights for all Americans. He helped lead the charge for voting rights in Mississippi, organizing voter registration efforts across the state. After returning from an NAACP meeting on June 12, 1963, he was assassinated outside his home by In an honor bestowed on only a handful of individuals, the Navy selected NAACP civil and voting rights icon Medgar Evers as the namesake of their newest ship. Christened in San Diego, Calif, on Nov. 12 by his widow Myrlie E vers-W illiam s, the USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13) will serve as a supply ship for the Navy. “I am just so honored for Medgar and all of the other people who gave their lives in the civil rights movement, particularly • those in Mississippi. In my humble estimation, very few of them have received rightful acknowledgment of their contributions,” remarked Evers-Williams. “He was a man who did believe in this country, and he believed in his people. He wanted things to be just and fair, and he was willing to work for The U.S. Navy's new est supply ship, the USNS Medgar Evers, sits docked after its christening last that.” month in San Diego. Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow o f African-American activist Medgar Evers, Medgar Evers Evers, an Army veteran, was christened the ship. (AP Photo) bom and raised in Mississippi, a member of the White Citizens’ where, after completing his mili Council. Just two months before tary service in 1946, he returned his murder, Evers anticipated that to earn his degree from Alcorn his work for civil rights would '■ ' Oregon Symphony Agricultural and Mechanical Col bring about his demise, when he - ZA #iO S KALM AR, * M U SIC O lR tC TO R u* lege (now Alcorn State Univer said, “I expect to be shot anytime sity). After graduation, he began I step out of my car... if I die, it working on behalf of the NAACP will be in a good cause.” in the fight to end segregation. In Evers’ murder served as one 1954, Evers became the first of the catalysts for President John NAACP state field secretary in F. Kennedy to request that Con Mississippi. gress create a national civil rights As field secretary, Evers or bill. ganized boycotts and demonstra “This is a truly special occa tions to bring attention to the sion,” said NAACP president and pervasive discrimination and urge CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. an end to racial injustice. He also “Medgar Evers has been an inspi led the investigation into the mur ration to so many in the civil der of Emmitt Till, who, at the age rights community and across the of 14, was killed for talking to a country. This honor by our Navy white woman. is befitting of his legacy.” Gospel Christmas Lloyd Center DMV to Close The limited service DM V office at the Lloyd Center Mall will close its doors permanently with the New Year. The Oregon Department of Transportation said the Jan. 13 closure will save approximately $275,000 in the next two-year state budget cycle in rent, utilities and maintenance. Three staff members will be reassigned to two other DMV offices. In the 80s, DMV launched sev eral limited-service offices. Since then, however, the ways people do business with DMVs have changed, catalyzing both busi nesses and government agencies to look for ways to streamline services and become more effi cient. “Because there are other DMV offices within a few miles from the Lloyd Center, we believe there is a more cost-effective way to pro vide services in the metro area,” DMV A dm inistrator Tom McClellan said. Fri Dec 9 & Sat Dec 10 | 7:30 pm Sun Dec 11 | 4 pm Mat/nee Charles Floyd, conductor Northwest Community Gospel Choir The P o rtla n d t r a d it io n c o n tin u e s ! The N W C o m m u n ity G ospel C h o ir lig h ts u p th e h o lid a y s w ith th re e h ig h -e n e rg y p e rfo rm a n c e s . D o n 't miss it! Tickets start at just $25 SPONSORED BY THE I Call: 503-228-1353 11-800-228-7343 C lick: OrSymphony.org Groups o f 10 or more save: Com e In: 923 SW Washington | 1 0 a m - 6 p m 503-416-6380 Mon - Fri IHEATHMAN I IOTI I üü! RACC
