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