February 25, 2015
The
Portland Observer Black
Malcolm X: 50 Years Later
Civil rights
leader honored
on anniversary
of his death
(AP) -- Activists, actors and poli-
ticians gathered Saturday in New
York City to honor civil rights leader
Malcolm X with a ceremony at the
Harlem site where he was assassi-
nated 50 years ago.
About 300 people converged to
hear remarks from one of Malcolm
X's six daughters, Ilyasah Shabazz,
as well as elected officials. The cer-
emony was held at the Malcolm X &
Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and
Educational Center, formerly known
as the Audubon Ballroom.
A blue light shone onto the floor
in the exact spot where he was
gunned down. A mural with images
of Malcolm X adorned a wall.
"He was just a young man who
gave all that he possibly could,"
Shabazz said after a moment of si-
lence marking the time of his death.
Malcolm X, whose full name was
El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, was 39
when he was shot in the theater on
Feb. 21, 1965, as he was preparing to
address several hundred of his fol-
lowers.
Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of
Malcolm X, speaks about her
father and family at a ceremony
on Saturday to remember the
civil rights leader. (AP photo)
By the time he died, the Muslim
leader had moderated his militant
message of black separatism and
pride but was still very much a pas-
sionate advocate of black unity, self-
respect and self-reliance. Three
members of the Nation of Islam were
convicted of murder in his death. He
had repudiated the Nation of Islam
less than a year earlier.
Social and political activist Ron
Daniels delivered the keynote ad-
dress, calling Malcolm X a man of
honesty and integrity. He ended his
speech with chants of "Long Live
Malcolm X!" as people stood and
clapped.
Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown is sworn in as Oregon
Governor by Oregon Chief Justice Thomas A. Balmer in Salem on
Wednesday, Feb. 18. (AP photo)
Brown Takes Oath of Governor
Makes pledge to restore public trust
(AP) — Kate Brown was sworn in
last Wednesday as Oregon's gov-
ernor following an influence-ped-
dling scandal that prompted the res-
ignation of fellow Democrat John
Kitzhaber.
In a speech to the Legislature
after her swearing-in, Brown praised
Kitzhaber for his contributions but
also said "we must restore the
public's trust."
"There is a great deal of work
ahead of us, and I'm ready to roll up
my sleeves and get to it," she said in
a brief address.
Kitzhaber has denied wrongdo-
ing and has consistently maintained
that he and his fiancée Cylvia Hayes
worked hard to avoid conflicts be-
tween her public and private roles.
Brown, a 54-year-old Minnesota
native, came to Oregon to attend
law school in Portland, the state's
largest city, and established a fam-
ily law practice before her first run
for the Legislature.
She called on lawmakers to pass
"meaningful legislation" to
strengthen the state ethics commis-
sion and require timely release of
public records. She pledged not to
accept outside compensation while
she's governor and said the members
of her household and her staff would
not be allowed to seek compensation
"for any work related to the business
of the state of Oregon."
"That simply will not happen,"
she said.
Brown's term will last two years.
The state constitution calls for a
special election that will come in
November 2016. She hasn't said
whether she plans to run.
History Month
Saluting Black History Month
Page 9