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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 26, 2014)
Œlje Page 4 jportlanò (Obsertier November 26, 2014 Decision Ignites Protests the march but cannot physically attend are welcome to donate on the carrying signs in support of gun NAACP’s national website. Dona violence victims including Brown. tio n s w ill go to h elp in g the When the Ferguson verdict was organization’s efforts to promote announced that Wilson would walk racial justice on behalf of people of free, many of the students expressed color in the United States. sadness and outrage. President Obama also followed Sam Matz, a black student activ the announcement with a statement ist who sat watching the announce broadcast on live TV, asking Ameri ment, said, “I feel like it should hurt cans to refrain from rioting or en less. But every time it’s devastat- gaging in violent protest. mg. “We are nation built on the rule Other students expressed a futil of law,” he offered. “We need to ity in their demands for justice. accept this was a decision that was “I’m sad, but not surprised,” said the grand jury’s to make.” He later Tessara Dudley, a black writer and addressed the aggrieved commu student. “It’s like our lives don’t nity of Ferguson, stating, “What is matter, like they never mattered.” also true is that there are problems “We know justice doesn't exist, and that communities of color aren’t but to see the blatant lack of regard just making those problems up.” for black people on an openly public Attorney General Eric Holder fo rm at, te lls us n o th in g has managed to end the night with hope changed,” said student activist for another path to justice in the Phoenix Singer. “Different era, dif Missouri case, announcing that “the ferent rhetoric, same results.” Justice Department’s investigation Cornell William Brooks, national into the shooting of Mike Brown president of the NAACP, made a remains ongoing.” He added that call M onday night for activists “those who decide to participate in across the country to join them on demonstrations should remember Dr. Derrais Carter, assistant professor o f Black Studies at a 120mile, 7 day march to Missouri’s the wishes of Michael Brown's par Portland State University, defines oppression at a rally a t PSU capital city, entitled “Journey for ents, who have asked that remem Monday night that was organized as a call for ju stice in the death Justice: Ferguson to Jefferson City.” brances of their son be conducted o f Michael Brown, the unarmed teenager killed during a confronta The march is set to begin on peacefully. tion with police in Ferguson, Missouri. Saturday, Nov. 29, and continue “It does not honor his memory to from the foot of the Canfield Green engage in violence or looting. In the plays— and uses— of force.” to indict Officer Wilson in this case Apartments in Ferguson, where coming days, it will likewise be im Local responses have varied as is a travesty o f justice.” Brown was shot dead, to Missouri portant for local law enforcement well. Rev. Dr. LeRoy Hayes Jr. of the “We in Portland have had many G ov. Jay N ix o n ’s m ansion in authorities to respect the rights of Albina Ministerial Alliance Coali Michael Browns - Kendra James, Jefferson City. demonstrators, and deescalate ten tion for Justice and Police Reform Jahar Perez, Aaron Campbell, James Portlanders who want to support sions by avoiding excessive dis said, “The failure of the grand jury Chasse - so we know how impor tant it is to bring officers to justice when they have used excessive and deadly force,” Haynes said. Portland M ayor Charlie Hales also issued a statem ent, acknow l edging that Portland will have to accom m odate its protestors. “We are fully prepared to sup port the people who choose to publicly dem onstrate. W e will work to facilitate safety for all dem onstrations,” Hales said. Truly making a difference in the lives o f The m ayor said Portland m ust Auto A ccident victims and Injured W orkers for nearly 20 years. also address the system ic prob continued from front Chiropractic Auto Injury Clinic, PC Zchon R. Jones, DC 333 NE Russell St., #200, Portland, OR. 97212 (503) 284-7838 If you or someone you know has been in an accident, call us so we can help you with your needs. (503) 284-7838 lems o f distrust that are occurring between police and people o f color all across the country, including Portland. “The situation in Ferguson did not occur in a vacuum. All o f our com m unity is hurting today. And, together, all of our com m unity m ust begin healing. We, as a so ciety, have a lot o f work to do addressing the system ic inequi ties history has left us. We are working to address those inequi ties in Portland with the Black M ale A ch iev em en t In itiativ e; Sum m erW orks internship p ro gram ; Ban the Box; a felony-hir ing incentive; and by working to build com m unity trust in the po lice bureau. The city, and all our public institutions, must work to address these issues." Audrey Terrell, president of the Portland chapter of the NAACP, called for the Portland law enforce ment to take note of the civil unrest that is caused by the use o f exces sive and deadly force aggressed toward communities of color. “The Portland Police D epart m ent needs to know - we will not sit and tolerate such acts o f injus tice on our home front. Ferguson shouldn’t, and we will not either,” she said. A g ro u p o f p r o te s to r s in Ferguson w rote a letter to the public, and it was read aloud in solidarity at the end o f the an nouncem ent at PSU by student M ariah Leewright. The letter ends with a state m ent on the sorrow the Ferguson experienced in the wake o f the shooting: “Grief, even in its m ost righ teous state, cannot last forever. No com m unity can sustain itself this way. So we still continue to stand fo r p ro g ress, and stand alongside anyone who will make a personal investm ent in ending our grief and will take a personal stake in achieving justice. We m arch on with purpose. The work contin ues. This is not a m om ent but a movem ent. The m ovem ent lives.” BOW EIVEL We are located on the comer o f MLK and Russell Street, on the second floor above the coffee shop. 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