Floyd’s
Family
Takes Seat
at Trial
Vaccines
to All by April 19
Governor’s order to get
more shots in arms
Emotional testimony brings tears
See story, page 2
See Local News, page 3
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Volume XLVV • Number 7
‘City
of
Roses’
www.portlandobserver.com
Wednesday • April 7, 2021
Committed to Cultural Diversity
Journeys to Justice
Taking on the
experiences of
being Black
The experiences of being
Black comes to life as part of a
presentation by Portland Opera
called Journeys to Justice, an
evening of art, song, opera and
short pieces about love, justice
and the experiences of being
African American.
Two members of Portland
black community are the lead-
ing players in the production.
The collection of compositions
was curated by Portland Opera
Artistic Advisor Damien Geter
and the production is directed
by Chip Miller, the associate
artistic director for Portland
Center Stage.
“Journeys to Justice is an
evening that invites the listen-
er to take a trip through the
eyes and experiences of Black
Americans, not only from the
point of view of trauma, but Portland Opera Artistic Advisor Damien Geter curated the
compositions for a new musical production about love,
C ontinued on P age 5
justice and the experiences of being African American.
Chip Miller, the associate director for Portland Center Stage,
directs “Journey to Justice,” a virtual production of art,
song, opera and short pieces taken through the eyes and
experiences of Black Americans.
Police Reforms Gain Traction
George Floyd
death moves
states to action
Rep. Janelle Bynum
(AP) — When a police officer knelt
on the neck of George Floyd in Minne-
apolis, other officers at the scene didn’t
intervene, even while Floyd said he
couldn’t breathe and stopped moving.
That lack of action is leading a grow-
ing number of states to compel police
to stop misconduct by a fellow officer.
Since Floyd’s death, Colorado, Con-
necticut, Massachusetts, Nevada, and
New Jersey have passed laws requir-
ing police to intervene when they see a
fellow officer engaged in misconduct,
said Katie Ryan of Campaign Zero, a
group which encourages reforms to re-
duce police violence.
Previously, many laws were aimed
at compelling police to only report
misconduct. But activists say Floyd’s
death makes clear that alone is not
enough.
“The one essential component is
that, in real time, a fellow officer has
to intervene when witnessing anoth-
er officer of any rank using excessive
force,” Ryan said.
Oregon’s Legislature also passed a
bill in a special session last year requir-
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