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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2016)
Page 4 June 15, 2016 P Astor A PPreciAtion Horror, Anger and Healing C ontinued from f ront Fellowship MBC Celebrates Pastor Johnny Pack IV and Sis Angela Pack with their 29th Appreciation July 17th @ 3:00pm. 4009 N. MISSOURI AVE Guest Speaker: Bishop Garry Tyson, Pastor of Goodwill Baptist Church, Seattle, WA emony along with acting Police Chief Donna Henderson. Both tried to assure the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and queer community that violence against them will be conquered by the ad- vancement of civil rights and love. Mayor Hales also shared his thoughts on the tragedy via his Twitter account, stating in sepa- rate tweets how Portland stands in support of Orlando, and sharing a video of him raising a rainbow lag to half-mast at City Hall in honor of those who lost their lives in the shootings. “My heart, and the hearts of all Portlanders, goes out to everyone affected by the tragedy in Or- lando. It is shocking, horrifying, unacceptable; we must stand to- gether in support of our LGBTQ communities,” Hales said. I’m calling on all Portlanders to hold our LGBTQ community close, and come out in a show of force against terrorizing people because of who they love.” The Portland Police Bureau also stated in a press release that acting Chief Henderson will be ramping up security for the upcoming Pride festivities, especially at nightclubs and bars most frequented by mem- bers of the LGBTQ community. “The way to safety is to be a community, not to huddle in- doors,” Mayor Hales told OPB in regards to showing support at the approaching Pride events. Community organizers at Pride Northwest, sponsors of the city’s Pride parade and waterfront fes- tivities, addressed their feelings towards the community with heavy hearts. “When senseless violence rocks our world, it seems as if the sorrow is too great to carry and the darkness too great. There ar- en’t any words to heal the wound; our love goes out to the survivors, friends, and families of the vic- tims of the Orlando shooting. We stand with you,” a statement by the group said. Tragedies like what occurred in Orlando can spark an increased sense of community and such has proved more than true with the vigils held in Portland and the wealth of support expressed to- ward the LGBTQ community. “It’s heartbreaking to think that people were having a good time with friends one moment and the next they’re running for their lives,” said black bisexual pho- tographer Clifford Prince King. “It could’ve been anyone of us in any other city. This event should remind us that nothing is promised and we have to love one another while we know we can.” The Q Center is welcoming those that need to discuss their feel- ings about the shootings in a pri- vate or group setting. They can be reached at 503-234-7837 and are located at 4115 N Mississippi Ave. Juneteenth Weekend Celebrations C ontinued from p age 2 AME Church, 5828 N.E. Eighth, and go west to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, south to North Rus- sell and end at the Legacy Emanu- el ield at North Graham and Van- couver Avenue where festivities will follow the parade and contin- ue through 7 p.m. In Vancouver, a Juneteenth cel- ebration sponsored by the NAACP Vancouver Branch, will take place on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Marshall Park, 1015 E. McLoughlin, highlighting local black culture with a sweet potato pie contest, as well as entertainers, food vendors and crafts. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration among African Amer- icans across the country com- memorating the announcement of the end of slavery in the Unit- ed States. It has been an African American tradition since the late 19th Century. The relationship between June- teenth and Portland dates back to 1945, when Clara Peoples from Muskogee, Okla., while working in the local shipyards, discovered that her co-workers were not fa- miliar with Juneteenth and talked her supervisor into allowing for a celebration during a 15 minute break, an event that turned into a new tradition.