Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2012)
Local News Trayvon Martin: Rally Saturday March 24 in Peninsula Park By Helen Silvis Of The Skanner News P ortland mom Mary Hill is organizing a rally and march to demand justice for Trayvon Martin. Hill is asking Port- landers to show their support for Trayvon’s family at a rally in Peninsula Park at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 24. Miller says rally organ- izers are asking people to wear hoodies, because the teen was wearing a hoodie when he was shot. Miller says she is organizing the rally because, “I’m a mom and it could be any one of our kids or brothers. I can’t not do something. We want justice. “I’ve never been fired up like this before. It has touched me and I can’t be quiet. I dream about Trayvon and when I talk about this I feel shaky and get goosebumps.” The mom of five children, aged 13 and under, Miller says like others she could not believe that an unarmed teen could be shot with impunity. “I can’t believe something like this can happen in 2012,” she says. “I want people to start thinking about this. We need to face these issues.” The Feb. 26 shooting of the unarmed Florida teen has sparked outrage in commu- nities across the country. A 17-year-old high school student, Martin went to the store to get candy and was returning home, when he was shot by neighborhood watch C O M Blues Reunion for Health Care captain, George Zimmerman. Zimmerman, a White Hispanic man has a long history of calling the police to report “suspicious” people in his gated apartment community. Police made no arrest in the case, citing Florida’s controversial, “stand your ground” law, which permits citizens to act in self- defense when they believe they are threatened. Martin’s family called for Zim- merman’s arrest and have pointed to cell phone records, a 911 call and witnesses who dispute Zimmerman’s version of the shoot- ing. The U.S. Department of Justice is investi- gating the case. NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous joined local NAACP leaders at an open forum at noon March 21 to hear local residents offer testimony on abuses and discrimination by the Sanford Police Department. The NAACP plans to submit this testimony to the Department of Justice, which is investigating the Sanford police. The forum follows a Town Hall Meeting at Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, Tuesday March 20, where hundreds of local residents rallied in support of Trayvon Martin. Many residents expressed outrage and offered their own stories of discrimination at the hands of police. “This is at least the third instance in the last several years where a black man has been assaulted or killed in Sanford and jus- tice has not been delivered,” Jealous said. M U N I T Y The Oregon Single Payer Campaign is throwing a party on Saturday, April 14 at the Melody Ballroom called the Inner City Blues Festival Reunion— “Healing the Healthcare Blues.” The Inner City Blues Festival was a popular, annual event sponsored by the Portland Rainbow Coalition that ran from the 1988 “Jam for Jesse” Jackson until the last Inner City Blues Festival concert in 2003. In the spirit of the Rainbow Coalition, many Northwest blues stars that performed in the festival in the past are coming together for a night of music that will benefit the work of the Oregon Single Payer Campaign for a universal, affordable healthcare system for all Oregonians. Included in the program are: Norman Sylvester Band with special guests: Lloyd Allen, Sara Billings, LaRhonda Steele, Sonny Hess, Jim Mesi, Richard Arnold, Bill Rhoades and Peter Moss; Lenanne Miller-Sylvester & Janice Scroggins in a “Tribute to Lady Day” (Billie Holiday); Lloyd Jones Struggle; Chatta Addy; Mad as Hell Doctors; and musician/tap dancer Shoehorn. The event is emceed by Paul Knauls and Renee Mitchell. For more information about the Inner City Blues Festival Reunion and the Oregon Single Payer Campaign go to www.singlepayeroregon.org. To purchase tickets online go to www.ticketsoregon.com. C A L E N D A R P ORTLAND 2012 B ULLETIN B OARD If you have an event you want to share with the community, email it two weeks in advance to The Skanner at info@theskanner.com Thursday March 22 ELECTIONS EVENT. Join Concordia University for this Portland Mayoral and City Council debate. The focus of this forum is on education from pre-k through higher education. This forum is free and open to the public. 7 p.m. Concordia University, 2811 NE Holman St. Saturday March 24 A FREE WRITING PROMPT WORKSHOP: Trying to make time to write? Take this Saturday afternoon and enjoy writing prompts provided in company of other writers. 2 – 5 p.m. Paper Tiger Coffee Roasters, 703 Grand Blvd. & Mill Plain Blvd in Vancouver, WA. Saturday & Sunday March 24 & 25 Page 2 The Portland Skanner March 21, 2012 THE PDX BICYCLE SHOW: Over 120 exhibitors will be showing off the latest in bicycle technology, gear, apparel and nutrition, Free bike parking and bike checks will be offered to those who ride to the show. Saturday hours 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday Hours 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Portland Expo Center – Hall E, 2060 N. Marine Dr. Adults $10 kids under 12 are free. Discount tickets available by visiting www.pedalnationevents.com. Sunday March 25 DISASTER PREPAREDNESS FOR THE UNEXPECTED: Learn 9 steps to prepare yourself and your neighbors for disaster response. You will also learn practical and safe food and water storage and other needed items. Suggested donations $25 per family or household. 1 p.m. Unity of Vancouver Church, 3814 Franklin St. Vancouver, WA. Week of March 26- 30 SPRING BREAK ACTIVITIES All youth and teens are invited to take part in activities at the PAL Portland Youth Center, 424 N.E. 172nd Ave., Portland. The center will be open to all youth from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with extended hours for teens 13 and older (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) Membership costs $50 or $30 for students on free or reduced lunches. (Runs from Sept. to June 8, 2012) Drop-in fee over the break is $5 a day. Activities will include: Free basketball throwathon; Trip to Wunderland; Mt. Hood sledding trip and Games Tourney. Parents are invited to join youth at the Spring Break Barbecue, 4 to 7 p.m. March 30. Questions? Contact Jay Williams 503-256-3479 Wednesday March 28 TEEN 3 ON 3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: Don’t miss the coed 3 on 3 basketball extravaganza. Players all across the city are welcome to join. There will be 16 team limit so register early or just come watch all the youth players. 2:45 – 5 p.m. East Portland Community Center, 740 SE 106th Ave. For more info call 503-823-3450. EASTER FAIR! Come and join us for our second annual Easter Fair! Everything is free. There will be lots for the kids to do and lots of candy too. 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. New Life Foursquare Church, 811 NE 88th Circle, Vancouver, WA Friday March 30 WHAT SORT OF COMMUNITY DO YOU LIVE IN? Occupation Nation Premier: B Media collective’s 5th variety show, Occupation Nation slams the new era of global uprising into a new episode of political remix videos. 8 – 11 p.m. St. Francis Dining Hall, 330 SE 11th Ave. FREE Saturday & Sunday March 31 & April 1 32ND ANNUAL TRILLUM FESTIVAL & NATIVE AND HARDY PLANT SALE: Trillium Festival also features guided tours, nature hikes, children’s activities and much more. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. both days. 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd.
