January 27, 2021
Page 5
African American Roots
Historian shares
stories for Black
History Month
view online because of continu-
ing COVID restrictions for public
gatherings.
Black historian Melissa Wil-
liams will present “A Place to Call
Home: Housing and the African
The Clark County Historical American Experience, post-World
Museum in Vancouver will launch War II,” an event to stream live on
its annual speaker series with a YouTube beginning at 7 p.m. on
Black History Month presenta-
Historian Melissa Williams will share the story of McCloughlin Heights and Vancouver’s African American
C ontinued on P age 11
tion, open for the community to
community as part of a Black History Month YouTube event from the Clark County Historical Museum.
Vandalism Won’t Deter Democrats
Party responds
to Inauguration
Day attack
The Democratic Party of Or-
egon is expressing unwavering
support for the new Biden-Harris
administration and its push for ac-
tion on racial justice, immigration
and environmental issues, show-
ing its resolve after an attack on
its state headquarters in northeast
Portland on Inauguration Day,
Jan. 20.
A group of mostly white pro-
testers, dressed in black clothes
and carrying signs against Pres-
ident Joe Biden and police
marched to the Democratic Party
offices on Northeast Ninth and
Davis during the afternoon. One
A group of Portland protesters carrying anti-President Joe
Biden and anti-police signs damaged the headquarters of the
Democratic Party of Oregon at Northeast Ninth and Davis on
Inauguration Day, Wednesday, Jan. 20. (AP photo)
person was seen carrying a Black Some in the group of about 150
Lives Matter sign. Others carried protesters broke out all of the
a banner declaring “We Are Un- ground floor windows of the head-
governable.”
quarters office, dragged dumpsters
Party officials said they were into the street and lit their contents
thankful that staff members were on fire, and left graffiti. Eight ar-
not in the building at the time. rests were made.
“This is not the first time our
building has been vandalized
during the past year – none of the
prior incidents have deterred us
from our important work to elect
Democrats up and down the bal-
lot, and this one will be no differ-
ent,” a statement from the political
organization said.
“None of this should take away
from the fact that today is a joyous
and momentous day for America
as we celebrate the Inauguration
of President Joe Biden and Vice
President Kamala Harris. Presi-
dent Biden is already starting the
work to build back better, with
more than a dozen critical Exec-
utive Orders on climate, pandem-
ic response, immigration, racial
equality, and more,” the statement
continued. “We at the Democratic
Party of Oregon are resolute and
determined to do everything in our
power to support the Biden/Harris
administration, and to help Ore-
gon and America recover from the
pandemic stronger than before.”
At least three left-wing protests
blocked streets and generated po-
lice responses on Inauguration
Day in the city. No right-wing pro-
tests materialized despite warn-
ings from officials.
A peaceful car caravan led by
Black leaders that started at Port-
land Community College in north
Portland celebrated the transition
of presidential power and urged
policy changes like police reforms
and environmental policies that
support disadvantaged communi-
ties.
But a protest gathering at the
Immigration and Customs En-
forcement office in south Port-
land later that night turned violent
when protestors applied graffiti
to the building and federal police
officers responded by dispursing a
tear like gas to break up the crowd.
Six arrests were made.