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Page 4
July 31.2013
Startup Focuses on Politics W
bsi,e government
engages people
in e
their
by D onovan M. S mith
T he P ortland O bserver
“The goal here is we want people
to basically empower themselves to
Politics is a difficult road for many
get in contact with their politicians
people to navigate. A young Port­
in a way that’s power through num­
land man has started Politcrowd.com
bers rather than power through
as a way to bridge that gap.
m oney o r c o n n e c tio n s ,” says
Paul Locker, 22, says he got the
Locker.
idea for such a platform after realiz­
The recent University of San Di­
ing that many of his friends and
ego graduate says his passion for
peers were not engaged in politics
politics and non-partisan beliefs
and had no desire to do so for an
were instilled during his formative
array of reasons, one of them being
years.
a perceived inability to interact with
He and his small staff are putting
photo by D onovan M. S mith /T he P ortland O bserver
elected officials.
in long hours without pay making
Politicians and activists from Paul Locker (second from the right] joins some of his volunteer staff for the launching of
phone calls to the state capital and
across the state will join Locker in Politicrowd.com. The non-profit website is targeted to building dialogue with elected officials and
shaking the hands of taxpaying citi­
getting the influence o f money out of politics.
zens they hope will become active
Pioneer Square on Sunday, Aug. 4, stituents who voice concerns in the users of the website.
to celebrate the recent launch of the districts they live. Other users will
Eric Wilson, who is a volunteer
website.
be able to review the letters and staffer, says he thought the Internet
Pohticrowd.com will allow essen­ “upvotes,” furthering the pressure was an “awesome” way to get dis­
Join us for low-cost bike helmets ($6 for bike, $20 for
tially every government represen­ to address local and national is­ enfranchised people back in to poli­
multi-sport helmets, infant to adult), free vaccinations,
tative in state to connect with con­ sues.
tics.
free health screenings and fun for all ages.
HNM
Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013,10 a.m.-1 p.m.
—
Healthy Living Celebration
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Atrium
501 N. Graham St.
/
Portland, OR 97227
\
Group Plans Portland Rally
Details: w w w .le g a c y h e a lth .o rg /e m a n u e l
Commemorating
1963 March on
Washington
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The Albina Ministerial Alliance,
along with community partners such
as the Urban League of Portland,
the NAACP of Portland, the ACLU
of Portland, and others are planning
a march and rally to commemorate
the 50th anniversary of the historic
March on Washington for Jobs and
Freedom.
Timed to coincide with the na­
tional event in Washington, D.C,
activists from around the Portland
region will gather in solidarity and
support of the ongoing civil rights
movement.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. on
Saturday, Aug. 24 at Terry Schrunk
Plaza and activists will march to
South Waterfront Park, where the
»» *'s%
^G uS t
rally, speakers, and music will begin
at 1 p.m.
While the anniversary is historic
in itself, the rally will also focus on
the recent setbacks in terms of civil
rights, including the U.S. Supreme
Court decision that struck down
Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act,
a cornerstone of modem civil rights
law.
Attorney General Eric Holder,
speaking recently at the National
Urban League Conference, found
the ru lin g "d isap p o in tin g and
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deeply flawed" but stressed that
the decision is not a defeat, but "a
historic opportunity" to strengthen
civil rights law.
Demonstrators will seize this
opportunity to organize in support
of stronger protections under the
law. Other events, including the re­
cent verdict in the trial of George
Zimmerman, highlight a failure on
the part of our legal system to ad­
dress system atic injustices and
unequal protections under the law.
In Portland, where unemployment
for African Am ericans is often
double the rate of the majority popu­
lation, and where a 2012 federal in­
quiry found that Police Bureau en­
gaged in a pattern or practice of
excessive force, the issues that com­
pelled the 1963 March of W ashing­
ton for Jobs and Freedom, including
lack economic opportunity and po­
lice brutality, are still the pressing
issues of today.
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