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August 5, 2020 Page 9 Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Portland Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos and story ideas. Submit to news@portlandobserver.com. C LASSIFIED /B IDS O PINION SUB BID REQUEST PR 36R1 – ADD CANOPY ON LEVEL 7 NE ELEVATOR TOWER PROJECT: 10th & Yamhill Smart Park Garage Renovation – Add Canopy on Level 7 NE Elevator Tower BID DATE & TIME: August 13, 2020 @ 2:00pm PST Scope of work includes steel and canopy glazing only. All other scopes of work have previously been awarded. Bids must be emailed. HSW Contact: Aaron Braun brauna@hswc.com (503) 757-0366. All bidders must comply with requirements of the prevailing wage law in ORS 279C.800 through ORS 279C.870. All bidders must be registered with the Construction Contractors Board at the time of bid submission. CCB 191495 SUB BIDS/SUPPLIER QUOTES REQUESTED Webster Road Housing Four Ways to Fight Racism g loria o ladiPo For weeks since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, protests have erupted across the globe. From Medford, Or- egon to Meridian, Mississip- pi, and many places beyond, peaceful protests have attract- ed hundreds. Even those in conservative, majority-white towns — some with active KKK chapters — have gath- ered to reject racism and vio- lence. It’s an encouraging sign. But not everyone is able to join in, especially at the height of COVID-19. Thankfully, there are other ways to contribute to the fight for racial justice. 1. Educate yourself. The first step to being an ef- fective ally is to educate your- self on racism, both structur- ally and in your community. A number of books are a great starting point. I recommend Freedom Is a Constant Strug- gle by Angela Davis and So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. If you prefer watching to reading, Netflix has a num- ber of documentaries to help understand racism and its role in the United States, including 13th and When They See Us. Don’t forget to learn about racism and police brutality in your own community. Despite the media’s depiction of police brutality as an issue impacting mainly cities, many rural com- by munities and suburbs also suffer from disturb- ing examples of police brutality. Keep track of events in the local news. Meet with your local sheriff and ask about police accountability measures. You have a right to live in a town where the police aren’t a threat to you and others. 2. Talk about racism at home. One of the most impactful things that allies can do in the face of anti-Blackness is to discuss these topics at home, especially with racist people in your inner circles. Chal- lenging racism inter-personal- ly can help change the ideolo- gy of family and friends — or at least introduce a different perspective. Educating your family and friends is the first step to cre- ating new allies and fostering a more tolerant culture in your community. 3. Support racial justice organizations. Organizations need resourc- es to support activists on the ground, bail out protestors, and pay their bills. Funding is especially important for local organizations who may not have the same bandwidth as national organizations to raise money. For these small local groups, every dollar counts. A simple Google search can produce thousands of re- sults for local, smaller orga- nizations in your area. If the internet is not accessible in your area, check local com- munity boards. Often, groups will post flyers about events, opportunities for you to learn more about the work they do, and ways to donate to their ef- forts. 4. Support struggling people. Many Black people are ex- hausted and vulnerable. Many need financial help. Whether suffering from COVID-19, job loss, the death of family mem- bers, or marginalization on ac- count of their race or gender identity, direct donations can change their lives. Finding people in need isn’t difficult. GoFundMe has hun- dreds of thousands of people asking for help with basic needs. Twitter houses similar campaigns, including threads with women looking for do- nations to escape abusive sit- uations or in need of general financial help. Or, go through your local church. Ask your pastor or church board members if they are currently looking for do- nations to help marginalized people. Your dollars can and will change lives. Don’t let Black Lives Mat- ter be a passing, catchy slo- gan. Wherever you live, be an active ally who challenges racism at every opportunity. Everyone is responsible to fight against racism, now and always. Gloria Oladipo is a student at Cornell University. Dis- tributed by OtherWords.org. 18000 Webster Road Gladstone, OR 97207 Bids Due: Aug. 26, 2020 @ 2:00 PM Webster Road is a rehabilitation project for the Housing Authority of Clackamas County. It’s an existing single-story wood-framed building constructed in 1960’s. The program consists of 48 mix of studios and SRO units for residents age 55 and older, food prep area, laundry facilities, offices and other common areas. The scope of work includes building code and accessibility upgrades; new insulation, weatherproofing, windows, doors, new exterior cladding and roofing; interior remodel includes new flooring, walls and ceiling finishes, plumbing fixtures, lighting and HVAC. All Scopes: Design-Build Fire Sprinkler and Design-Build Electrical and Low Voltage Select Bid to Certified Firms: Abatement & Demolition, Design-Build Plumbing and Design-Build HVAC Plans are currently available at: Walsh Construction Co., contractorplancenter.com, iSqFt.com, mcip-pdx.org, and oame.org. Special Notes: Davis Bacon Residential Prevailing Wages; Certified Payroll; 20% MWESB participation goal – certified businesses are encouraged to bid. 2905 SW First Ave • Portland, OR 97201 (503) 222-4375 FAX (866) 446-0681 Contact: Natali Kotova ORCCB # 147267/WALSHCC962LD Walsh Construction Co. is an equal opportunity employer and requests sub-bids from Minority, women, disadvantaged and emerging small business enterprises. Advertise with diversity in The Portland Observer Call 503-288-0033 or email ads@portlandobserver.com