The skanner., May 20, 2015, Page 3, Image 3

News
Medal
National Guard Re-Deployed
continued from page 1
This award at long last pays
proper tribute to a true
American hero who served our
country so bravely despite the
prejudice he and countless
others endured at the time in
the military as well as at home
U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY TECH. SGT. EMILY THOMPSON, 142ND FIGHTER WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS/RELEASED
Johnson and others with the country’s highest honor; The
Croix de Guerre with star and palm.
In 2010 The Skanner News helped launch a campaign to
ensure this war hero received recognition. Our first article
Oregon Gov. kate Brown, and Maj.
Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, Adjutant
General, Oregon, thank the airmen
of the 142nd Security Forces
Squadron following the unit’s
mobilization ceremony held at the
Portland Air National Guard Base on
May 15.
was Courage Comes in Every Color grabbed the attention
of Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish.
Fish’s grandfather commanded the Harlem Hellfighters,
Johnson’s
regiment.
Since then, the campaign has gained momentum thanks to
the efforts of Commissioner Fish, Oregon Sen Ron Wyden,
former New York State Rep. Joe DioGuardi, New York Sen.
Charles Schumer and veterans groups.
Here’s Sen. Ron Wyden’s Statement on Sgt. Henry John-
son’s Medal of Honor:
Washington, D.C. – Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today
issued the following statement after the announcement that
Sgt. Henry Johnson would posthumously receive the Medal
of Honor:
“I am thrilled that Sergeant Johnson has finally received
his long overdue Medal of Honor for his heroism in World
War I. This award at long last pays proper tribute to a true
American hero who served our country so bravely despite
the prejudice he and countless others endured at the time in
the military as well as at home.
He’s truly distinguished himself and this honor could not
be any more well-deserved.”
The administration announced that President Obama will
award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Sergeant (then
Private) Henry Johnson and present the honor to a represen-
tative from the New York National Guard on June 2.
Election
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Portland State University professor Julie
Esparza Brown – the first Latina ever to
serve on the PPS board — won the Zone 1
director slot on the board of Portland Public
Schools, taking 77.49 percent of the vote
against Andrew E. Davidson.
Paul D. Anthony got 53.97 percent of
votes for zone 2 director of Portland Public
Schools, sealing his victory in a race with
three opponents. Jose Gonzalez finished
with 28.43 percent of votes. Emma Russac
Williams received 11.45 percent of votes
and John Sweeney got 5.72 percent of
votes. Anthony is the CFO for Shannon
Pratt Valuations, a Beaverton-based finan-
cial services company, and campaign
with kids in Portland Public Schools.
Stephen Marc Beaudoin, the executive
Anthony is the CFO for Shannon Pratt Valuations,
a Beaverton-based financial services company,
and campaign materials sold him as the only
candidate with kids in Portland Public Schools
materials sold him as the only candidate
director of PHAME Academy, which pro-
tial employees.
Most jurisdictions with extant Ban the
Box laws require employers to wait until
after an interview, or until they’ve extended
a conditional offer, to investigate a job can-
didate’s background. These laws also
exempt positions where criminal history is
considered relevant to the position.
house bill that would make the policy apply
statewide. The bill, HB 3025, passed the
house by a 33-27 vote and has moved on to
the State Senate.
In addition to these city and state laws,
private sector businesses have banned the
box as well. Large retail employers Wal-
mart, Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond and
vides arts education for people with disabil-
ities, will step into the position 6 director
seat for the Multnomah Education Service
District. He received 54.65 percent of votes.
He defeated Doug Montgomery (34.72 per-
cent of votes) and Colby Ross Clipston
(9.58 percent).
Siobhan Burke, a special education serv-
ices provider and former union organizer
defeated Kay L. Bridges handily in the race
for Position 7, Zone 3 director of the
MESD. The lion’s share of voters – 74.49
percent, or 11,526 – cast their ballots for
Burke.
Box
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according to a 2010 study published in the
academic journal, Justice Quarterly.
Ban the box policies may also foster eco-
nomic growth: another 2010 study
estimated a loss of $57 to $65 million dol-
lars to the U.S. economy due to
unemployment and underemployment of
ex-offenders.
The group of Senators sent President
Obama a letter asking him to issue an exec-
utive order that would bar federal
contractors from asking about criminal his-
tories until later in the hiring process.
The letter stated, “Our nation’s legal and
moral underpinnings provide that anyone
who makes a mistake and learns from it
deserves a second chance. Those who have
accepted the consequences of their actions
and who have paid the price for their past
transgressions should have the opportunity
to re-enter the workplace.”
Fair chance hiring policies don’t compel
employers to hire ex-convicts. Hiring direc-
tors maintain the right to employ the most
qualified candidate – and employers are still
able to use background checks to vet poten-
‘Those who have accepted the consequences
of their actions and who have paid the price for
their past transgressions should have the
opportunity to re-enter the workplace’
The proposed executive action would
align federal hiring policies with local and
state rules. Over 100 cities and counties and
16 states have passed these restrictions,
including Multnomah County, the City of
Portland and the City of Seattle.
The Oregon legislature is considering a
Home Depot have all stopped asking about
criminal records on their job applications.
According to U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley,
banning the box would fix flawed hiring
practices.
“For the over 70 million Americans who
have criminal histories, the current hiring
process in America is broken. If these
Americans have accepted their past actions
and paid the price for those transgressions,
they shouldn’t face unreasonable barriers to
reentering the workplace,” Merkley said.
“That’s why I’m calling on the President to
take action and require all federal contrac-
tors and agencies to “Ban the Box” and
refrain from asking job applicants about
their criminal history until later in the hiring
process.”
In addition to Merkley, Murray, Wyden,
and Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders,
the other signing Senators are: Cory Booker
(NJ), Sherrod Brown (OH), Sheldon White-
house (RI), Chris Murphy (CT), Chris
Coons (DE), Dick Durbin (IL), Al Franken
(MN), Ed Markey (MA), Tim Kaine (VA),
Patrick Leahy (VT), Mazie Hirono (HI),
Tammy Baldwin (WI), Mark Warner (VA),
Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Richard Blumen-
thal (CT), Elizabeth Warren (MA), Tom
Udall (NM), Tom Carper (DE), Ben Cardin
(MD), Jack Reed (RI), Joe Manchin (WV),
Amy Klobuchar (MN) and Brian Schatz
(HI).
May 20, 2015 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Page 3