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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 2014)
S-*1* j^ortlanì» (Obscrucr Page 14 December 31, 2014 New Prices Effective May 1,2010 Martin Cleaning Service Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Residential & Commercial Services Minimum Service CHG $45.00 A sm all distance/travel charge m ay be applied CARPET CLEANING 2 Cleaning Areas or more $30.00 Each Area Pre-Spray Traffic Areas (Includes: 1 sm all H allw ay) 1 Cleaning Area (only) $40.00 Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area (Hallway Extra) Stairs (12-16 stairs - With Other Services): $25.00 Area/Oriental Rugs: $25.00 Minimum Area/Oriental Rugs (Wooly. $40.00Minimum Heavily Soiled Area: Covering Race and Police Brutality Countering negative patterns by B ob B utler The second half of 2014 has been marked by the shooting deaths of four African- American males by local law enforcement — Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.; Eric Garner in New York, John Crawford and Tamir Rice in Ohio — that have attracted the attention of na tional media and the federal gov ernment, and shined a light on the issue of policing in minority communities. It has also been marked by some exceptional journalism on the subject, as well as some alarming narratives from jo u r nalistic choices that, while not necessarily intentional, serve to perpetuate stereotypes of black men as dangerous criminals. Race is present in the dynam ics around these stories and those who are involved in producing these stories. Put another way: while a diverse group of journal ists has been on the ground re tant to recognize the negative porting this story, the same can patterns that can emerge in such not be said about who makes stories, and to discuss strategies decisions about what will be for countering these patterns. covered and how. Two questions can help guide Some of the coverage goes this process: Is this information into great detail about how the relevant? And how will this af victims’ actions may have con fect the story? tributed to their own demise: John A big part of how narrative is Crawford should not have tried shaped in these stories starts to buy a toy rifle at Walmart, with the photos of those involved. Mike Brown should not have While availability of photos can (allegedly) stolen cigars from a be a challenge, especially in the convenience store, Eric Gam er early stages of a fast-moving should not have (allegedly) been story, efforts must be made to selling loose cigarettes and Tamir paint the fullest picture (pun in Rice should not have been play tended) of the central figures. ing with a toy gun. Im ages depicting black men These cases are not the first, solely as menacing, threatening nor will they be the last, involving or dangerous only fuel existing black males and the police. It must stereotypes. be pointed out that black males Weighing whether to include are not the only ones being shot. details about a black victim ’s Dillon Taylor in Utah and Gil Col criminal background or drug use lar in Alabama were white and also contributes to the narrative. also unarmed when police shot Here, balance is important. Is them. The difference is the media there an attempt to report the coverage of their cases does not officer’s history? Does the of imply that they deserved to die. ficer have a disciplinary history From the breaking news cov or a record of complaints re erage of these events to the garding use of force? Is the analysis that followed, and will victim ’s background relevant to hopefully continue, it is impor the specific incident that ended his life? If so, explain this to readers, lest it be interpreted as gratuitous or malicious. In the case of Tamir Rice, why did the Northwest Ohio Media Group report on his par ents’ criminal records? What did that have to do with Rice being shot by police? Stories like Ferguson and the deaths of Crawford, Garner and Rice reaffirm the urgency of more diverse American news rooms. Look no further than the m em bership of the N ational Association of Black Journalists to find many examples of re sponsible reporting. N ABJ was founded in 1975 in part, “to monitor and sensitize all media to racism .” Nearly 40 years later, NABJ still finds it necessarily to fulfill this role. It is our hope that those committed to a better approach to exploring issues of race and society will join us in examining how we can all improve. Bob Butler is the President o f the National Association o f Black Journalists , the largest organization fo r journalists o f color in the nation. Additional $10.00 each area (RequiringExtensive Pre-Spraying) UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Sofa: $69.00 Loveseat: $49.00 Sectional: $ 109 - $ 139 Chair or Recliner: $25 - $49 Throw Pillows (With Other Services): $5.00 % ADDITIONAL SERVICES • Area & Oriental Rug Cleaning • Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning • Deodorizing & Pet O dor Treatment • Spot & Stain Removal Service • Scotchguard Protection • M inor Water Damage Services SEE CURRENT FLYER FOR ADDITIONAL PRICES & SERVICES Call for Appointment (503) 281-3949 Long Past Time to Repeal Second Amendment Ending this instrument of death by T om H . H astings W hat c o u n try fetishizes, lionizes, valo rizes, idolizes, and sacralizes guns as much as does our United S ta te s? OK, p o ssib ly Mozambique— the only country with an AK47 on its flag, but really, it’s long past time to end this obsessive “My Precious” attachment of Americans to in struments of death. O f the nine top stories from Reuters on Christmas Day last week, six were about shootings — four new ones and two were about the national justice move ment against the shootings of citizens by police. A pandemic of sick gun vio lence, punctuated by mass killings of children, has gone on far too long. It is long past time to repeal the stupid Second Amendment. The fate of the law should have been sealed when the U.S. Supreme Court took up a Sec ond A m endm ent case in 2008, but the court ruled that past rulings by their pre decessors were wrong, that into twisted law, but to further prohibit states and local govern ments from declaring their juris dictions free of legal guns. The conservative court once again ruled against the power of states, a principle that used to be asso ciated with liberals who wanted to make sure everyone had the Amendment, is to repeal it. The American people are tired o f m ass s h o o tin g s, p o lic e shootings, family fued shootings, sibling shootings, accidental tod dler shootings and teen suicide by gun. We are exhausted by the pro liferation of death, of threats, of bloodshed, and by the National R ifle A sso c ia tio n and gun industry’s moral garbage-spew ing arguments put forth every time someone challenges the ubiquity of guns. Repeal the Second Amend ment. Surround it, grab it, bring it in the back room, pull down the shades, and end it. Okay, peti right to vote, for example, even tion for its repeal, get it on the th o u g h they w e re n ’t w hite ballot, and get it done by enough enough. Now when a city or of the U.S. populace, by enough state wants to outlaw firearms, people in enough states, to get it too bad. The conservatives took consigned to the dustbin of his away their powers and rights in tory. favor of Big Brother. Tom H. H astings is the The only logical path, given the fo u n d in g director of clearly decided role of the Second PeaceVoice. The American people are tired o f mass shootings, police shootings, family fued shootings, sibling shootings, accidental toddler shootings and teen suicide by gun. in fact the Amendment that pro vided for a “well regulated mili tia” really guaranteed every in dividual the right to own a gun. Wow. That is an interesting read ing of the English language. What the Supremes have done is to not only warp the meaning of the Amendment and make it à
