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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2012)
A u g u s t 15, 2012 Community Rights “Wrong ^ortlanò (Obstruer Page S P hotos by M indy C ooper / T he P ortland O bserver Flowers and a card show support for the African- American victims o f a hate crime directed at a North Portland Masonic Lodge. c o n t i n u e d f r o m fro n t turned into a beautiful moment. The community came out in ways I don’t think would have happened years ago.” As a resident of northeast Port land for more than 40-years, Daniels said he has seen vandalism o f this nature come around every now again. “The thing that was odd was the scale of it,” Daniels said. “It was outrageous.” He added, however, the commu nity support he has witnessed over the past few days has almost moved him to tears. According to Daniels, neighbor hood Re-building Center employ ees and other members of the com munity showed up to help remove the paint before it even had time to Randy Daniels, a resident o f northeast Portland for more than 40- dry. “That very day it was all cleaned years, was one o f many local residents who came to show off and painted over,” he said. “It support for members o f the African-American Masonic Lodge and was like the community righted the a nearby food cart operator that were the target o f racist graffiti. wrong.” “It was like the community righted the wrong, ” he said. Individuals also created a face book page, which invited residents and supporters to come out to the block last Saturday night for a vigil o f support, said Daniels. “It was so beautiful. More than 100 people arrived. People gathered and we had a night of com m unity fellow ship.” Although the paint has come down, the crime is a reminder for many there is a long way to go for j ustice and acceptance. “It is a shame that we can’t all live in harmony and help one another. That is probably the hardest part about this,” said Holmes. Dr. Randy Blazak, professor of sociology at Portland State Univer sity, is a member of Portland’s Coa lition against Hate Crimes, which was founded in 1997 in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing to in crease communication between law enforcement and community and civil rights groups. In addition to preventative work, the coalition aims to help victims also find resources, as well as guide the community to know how to re spond to hate crimes. According to Blazek, the coali tion receives approximately five re ported hate crim es each month A sign thanks neighbors for reaching out in support after racist vandalism targeted an African-American operated food cart and the within Portland, some which may or Sons o f Haiti Masonic Lodge on North M ississippi Avenue. may not be determined to be hate crimes after investigation. crim e, said B lazek, is the affect make sure the community is on the support, although he currently is heart, but it shows how good the But the recent incidents on Thurs the in cid en t has on the co m m u victim’s side and not the side of the only open for catering and special community can be,” said Holmes. “I day, he said, “definitely fit the defi nity. “ H ate crim e often causes hate mongers, said Blazek. events. really believe the world is chang- nition.” d iv isio n in the com m unity b e For Ellie Bradley, whose food Still, the neighborhood voiced ing. “Hate crimes are message crimes cause the victim s d o n ’t know cart Grass Roots Café was painted their desire to help keep Bradley’s Anyone with information that that target more than the immediate who is on th e ir side or w ho is on with swastikas and the “N”- word, business on the block. Next to his could lead to an arrest on this case victim,” he said. “They target large the side o f the p eople w ho corn- the incident has catalyzed him to re message, a large heart was con should contact Detective Kevin communities, and in that sense, they m itted the a c t,” he said. “ H ate evaluate whether or not he wants to structed and hung by anonymous Warren at503-823-3761. Crime Stop are a form of terrorism.” crim es can d estro y w hole com - keep his business open. On his cart, neighbors that read: ‘Roots Café, pers is offering a reward of $ 1,000for O ne o f the m ost neg ativ e ef- m unities b ecau se o f th is .” he wrote a message to the commu Please stay, Love people’. information that leads to an arrest in fects that com e from such a The work we have to do is to nity that said thank you for all of the “It (the hate crime) breaks my this case.
