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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 9, 2016)
March 9, 2016 Page 7 O PINION Your Carpet Best Cleaning Choice Martin Cleaning Service Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Residential & Commercial Services Minimum Service CHG. $45.00 A small distance/travel charge may be applied CARPET CLEANING 2 Cleaning Areas or more $30.00 Each Area Pre-Spray Traffic Areas (Includes: 1 small Hallway) 1 Cleaning Area (only) $40.00 Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area (Hallway Extra) 21st Century Agenda for Jobs and Freedom Evaluating the candidates for president m arC h. m orial With American cit- izenship comes great responsibility. Since the birth of this nation, every four years we decide who will take on the mantle of president. No de- cision we make as citizens could have a more profound impact on our lives—and in the broader in- ternational arena. When we determine who will take on the role of commander in chief, we effectively decide our national priorities, our agenda and under what political philosophy we wish to be governed. Voting for a president is neither an exer- cise to be taken lightly or under- taken in blissful ignorance. Every four years, you are challenged to choose the candidate who pro- motes your agenda. At the National Urban League, our agenda revolves around edu- cation, jobs and justice. This is not about endorsing candidates; it’s about endorsing democracy. This is not about endorsing a particu- lar politician; it’s about endorsing by those ideas that benefit communi- ties of color, benefit our cities and benefit all low-income and work- ing-class Americans. The National Urban League, along with the heads of eight other historic civil rights organizations, recent- ly met with democratic pres- idential candidates Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sand- ers to hear their respective platforms and to promote our re- spective agendas. In addition to myself the meet- ings included Melanie Campbell, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation; Cornell W. Brooks, NAACP; The Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Net- work; Kristen Clarke, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Wade Henderson, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Benjamin L. Crump, National Bar Associa- tion; Sherrilyn Ifill, NAACP Le- gal defense and Education Fund; and Ingrid Saunders Jones and Janice Mathis, National Council of Negro Women. The political truth is that, today, a candidate for the office of presi- dent will find it almost impossible to win a nomination without the support of African-American and Hispanic voters. Communities of color are a large voting bloc and their concerns must be acknowl- edged as vital, top-of-the-agenda items. We covered much of those items with the would-be-presi- dents using the coalition’s “21st Century Agenda for Jobs and Freedom” as a framework. The public policy paper, developed almost five years ago in a series of meetings attended by nearly 60 leading civil rights, social justice, business and community leaders in Washington, D.C., identified five urgent domestic goals for our nation: 1. Achieve Economic Parity for African-Americans; 2. Promote Equity in Educational Opportuni- ty; 3. Protect and Defend Voting Rights; 4. Promote a Healthier Nation by Eliminating Healthcare Disparities; and 5. Achieve Com- prehensive Criminal Justice Sys- tem Reform. Both of the candidates spoke candidly on a host of these is- sues—and more. Both of the can- didates demonstrated an ability to speak fluently and fluidly on the topics of race relations and racial inequality, and how the enduring pairing of the two has had a dev- astating impact on communities of color all around our nation. It was important for those of us gathered around the table to understand that as the first Black family to reside in the White House moves out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the concerns of Black Americans and underserved communities ar- en’t swept under the rug behind them–to paraphrase my esteemed colleague Rev. Al Sharpton of Na- tional Action Network. Our goal is to help set an agen- da for the next president, but that agenda will ultimately be set with every individual vote cast. You have a seat at the table too. Find out where the candidates stand on the issues that are important to you and cast a vote—and make sure your family and friends are doing the same—because your vote is your access to the proverbial ta- ble. It is your unique opportunity to let the candidates know what is most important to you. I hope this will not be the last meeting between civil rights groups and presidential candi- dates. The invitations have been sent and we look forward to more conversations, because in politics, there are no permanent allies or permanent enemies, only perma- nent interests. Marc H. Morial is president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League. Stairs (12-16 stairs - With Other Services) : $25.00 Area/Oriental Rugs: $25.00 Minimum Area/Oriental Rugs (Wool) : $40.00 Minimum Heavily Soiled Area: Additional $10.00 each area (Requiring Extensive 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 Odor Treatment • Spot & Stain Removal Service • Scotchguard Protection • Minor Water Damage Services SEE CURRENT FLYER FOR ADDITIONAL PRICES & SERVICES Call for Appointment (503) 281-3949