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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 12, 2022)
Page 6 Martin Luther King Jr. 2022 Special Edition January 12, 2022 ‘We have progressed’ Continued from Page 2 needs to be a better way to handle these interactions,” she said. Last year, Tolbert served as vice president of the Vancouver NAACP when listening ses- sions were held before the Clark County Council to outline racial equality concerns. Systemic rac- ism is a longstanding problem in Clark County and can be traced back to a tight connection be- tween the Ku Klux Klan and county leadership in the 1920s and 1930s, she said. The NAACP outcry drew op- position from one council mem- ber at the time, Quiring O’Brien, who declared that she does not believe Clark County has any systemic racism. O’Brien resisted calls by the NAACP and other civil rights ad- vocates to resign after her state- ment, but the Council took action against her remarks by passing a resolution declaring “systemic racism in Clark County is a public health crisis.” The NAACP and other civ- il rights leaders have been part of public demonstrations and marches for racial justice over the past two years, but some of these actions have been marred by vio- lent demonstrators, that “have not amplified Dr. King’s message,” Tolbert said. ADVANTIS CREDIT UNION COME WORK WITH US. COMMITTED We value every person and take care of our community. Inclusion, diversity, and equality are the heart of our organization. So that each employee feels safe and supported. INVESTED With generous tuition assistance, robust training programs, and personalized career development plans, we’re here to help you realize your full potential. COMMUNITY We use our time, talent, and resources to strengthen the places our members and employees call home. And we seek new ways to support Black, Brown, and all people of color, as well as underrepresented members of the greater Portland community. JOIN OUR TEAM We provide an honest and ethical culture, competitive pay, and terrific benefits— with a generous 401(k) plan and comprehensive health insurance. We work with passion and purpose, and empower employees to do the right thing. Check out our career opportunities at www.advantiscu.org But Tolbert also points out how many people have forgotten how tough it was for King and his fol- lowers back when they led pro- tests in the 1950s and 60s. “It’s a complicated topic be- cause the way that society has whitewashed Dr. King and his message and used his phenome- nal and impactful words, makes it hard to bring him up to condemn current violent activists,” she said. “We see the activism and the rebel intent that he displayed during his time, but the folks who condemn the way we protest are the same folks that pretend they didn’t see the dogs and the hoses used in those ‘peaceful’ protests…I love the framework Dr. King used, but it’s disheartening to see how that is weaponized against us.” Census records show there are more than 12,000 Black res- idents in Clark County and more than 4,000 of them live in the city of Vancouver. Going for- ward, Tolbert said her goal is to serve that community. “This year we will be figur- ing out how we can continue expanding while also starting to rebuild relationships within our community,” she said. “We’ve been apart for so long because of the pandemic and we want to be sure that our community feels nurtured and cared for after so much separation.”
