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
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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!
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