Portland observer., January 11, 2017, SPECIAL EDITION, Page Page 11, Image 11

M artin L uther K ing J r .
January 11, 2017
Page 11
2017 special edition
Cameron Whitten, local activist, non-profit director and citizen journalist live streaming a protest in downtown Portland.
M ichael c ary a rellano
Live-Streaming for Political Change
PhoTo by
Activist documents
Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church
Trump protests worldwide Pastor J.W. Matt Hennessee, Senior Servant
c hriSTa M c i nTyre
T he P orTland o bServer
We carry the images of the Civ-
il Rights Movement with us. The
historical battle to advance equal
rights for all awakened a country
to the struggles of African Amer-
icans. In the wake of the recent
presidential election in which an
attack on immigrants, Mexicans
and Muslims played such a prom-
inent role, local activist and exec-
utive director of Know Your City,
Cameron Whitten has taken up the
tradition as a citizen journalist by
live-streaming an activist commu-
nity responding to the latest politi-
cal events shaping our era.
The way we remember Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. and others
who fought for equality, including
equal opportunity in employment,
housing, and education, as well as
the right to vote and the right of
equal access to public facilities are
through powerful images captured
by newspaper photographers.
Black and white photographs of
firemen turning their hoses full
force on the bodies of demonstra-
tors in Birmingham, Ala. in the
summer of 1963 still haunt and
shape our history. The 1968 sani-
tation workers strike of Memphis,
Tenn., with black men marching
down Beale Street wearing pork-
pie hats, well pressed suits and
ties, carrying signs which read the
rallying cry “I Am A Man” still
stirs emotion today.
From 1954 through 1968, it
by
was common for Americans to see
daily images of the Civil Rights
Movement on the front page of
their newspapers. Dr. King knew
the power of the image to soften
hearts and change minds. Those
photographers helped spread Dr.
King’s message: “Love is the only
force capable of transforming an
enemy into [a] friend.”
Today’s historic moments ar-
en’t recorded by newspaper pho-
tographers alone. Using smart
phones and social media, every-
day citizens are documenting and
sharing instantly across the world
the events as they happen.
Two days after Donald Trump
was elected the next president
of the United States, thousands
of Portlanders filled the streets
downtown to voice their concerns.
Heading an organization which
seeks to preserve and share Port-
land’s history, Whitten was among
them. He live-streamed the pro-
tests as they continued daily for a
week. Thousands of people from
around the world tuned in.
Whitten described the protest
participants as more diverse and
younger than he’s seen in previous
years.
“I saw so many students out
there who feel like that their de-
mocracy was stolen from them.
Millennial voters voted over-
whelmingly
against
Donald
Trump and their choice was not
c onTinued on P age 19
Annual Drum Major Awards & Ecumenical Service
“Salute to Greatness Luncheon”
Honoring Students & Community Members who live their lives with a “Drum Major” Spirit
Saturday, January 14, 2017; 12 Noon 2:00 PM
Dr. & Mrs. O.B. Williams Fellowship Hall
Where Do We Go From Here
Conversations to Solutions • Bill Deiz, Moderator
Sunday, January 15, 2017 at 2:00 PM - 4:15 PM, Main Sanctuary
Guest Panel Discussion Members
Rabbi Michael Cahana, Congregation Beth Israel; Nkenge HarmonJohnson,
Urban League President; Atty. Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney; Chief Michael
Marshman, Portland Police Bureau; Jan Elfers, Ecumenical Ministries of
Oregon Executive Director; Wajdi Said, Director of the Muslim Educational
Trust; Atty. Rod Underhill, Multnomah County District Attorney; Minister
Nathaniel Williams, Unify Portland; Greg McElvey, Portland’s Resistance; Kim
Dixon, Enough is Enough; Presiding Multnomah County Judge Nan Waller;
and Judge Adrienne Nelson
3138 N Vancouver Ave., Portland, OR • www.vafbcpdx.org • 503.282,9496