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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (July 20, 2016)
Page 2 The Skanner July 20, 2016 ® Challenging People to Shape a Better Future Now Bernie Foster Founder/Publisher Bobbie Dore Foster Executive Editor Jerry Foster Advertising Manager Christen McCurdy News Editor Patricia Irvin Graphic Designer Arashi Young Reporter Monica J. Foster Seattle Oice Coordinator Susan Fried Photographer 2016 MERIT AWARD WINNER The Skanner Newspaper, es- tablished in October 1975, is a weekly publication, published every Wednesday by IMM Publi- cations Inc. 415 N. Killingsworth St. P.O. Box 5455 Portland, OR 97228 Telephone (503) 285-5555 Fax: (503) 285-2900 info@theskanner.com Opinion Black Lives vs. All Lives and Blue Lives: Why are non-Blacks threatened by the Black Lives Matter Movement? T he recent police murders of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile and the protests that followed have reignited the conversa- tion around the social justice movement, Black Lives Mat- ter. Black Lives Matter, the so- cial justice movement created in 2012 ater the murder of Trayvon Martin and the ac- quittal of his killer sent shock waves through the Black community, is a movement that has stood against racial oppression and the dehuman- ization of Blacks in America “ Tai Harden- Moore, J.D. Guest Columnist nearly as much attention as the movement itself. In re- sponse to Black Lives Matter non-marginalized groups have responded with their own movements, includ- ing:“All Lives Matter,” and, af- ever, it is not simply the term “Black” in Black Lives Matter that has those who oppress Blacks in America concerned and in many cases outraged. The true concern surround- ing Black Lives Matter stems from the strength that Black Americans will gain against institutional racism when we unite. The Black Lives Mat- ter movement is giving Black people a united voice in our ight for our human rights. As Assata Shakur said, “It is our duty to ight for our freedom, it is our duty to win. We must The idea of Blacks breaking loose from the chains of systematic and institutional racism is a threat to our oppressors because collectively we are powerful, and it is that power that has truly sparked the fear and back- lash against Black Lives Matter by uniting Black people in an efort to ight against the deprivation of our human rights. While Black Lives Matter is a powerful movement bring- ing attention to the issues that face Black people nationwide, the term “Black” in “Black Lives Matter” has garnered ter the recent police shootings in Dallas, “Blue Lives Matter” — both attemptsto deempha- size the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement and bolster the unfounded claims that Black Lives Mat- ter is inherently exclusion- ary and therefore divisive, invalid, or terroristic. How- love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.” The idea of Blacks breaking loose from the chains of systematic and institutional racism is a threat to our oppressors be- cause collectively we are pow- erful, and it is that power that has truly sparked the fear and backlash against Black Lives Matter. As Huey P. Newton said, “`There’s no reason for the establishment to fear me. But it has every right to fear the people collectively — I am one with the people”. The strength that comes from the Black Lives Matter movement is threat to the oppression, de- humanization, and inequality that Blacks face in Ameri- ca. The word Black does not undermine the movement. Any person or group that at- tempts to lessen the strength and power of the movement by placing “All” or “Blue” in place of “Black” is a part of the oppressive society that Black Lives Matter is determined to change. Tai Harden-Moore is a grad- uate of Florida A&M Uni- versity College of Law. Mrs. Harden-Moore has extensive experience advocating to bring attention to the issues that most negatively afect Afri- can-Americans. Since being di- agnosed with breast cancer at age 31, Mrs. Harden-Moore has dedicated her voice, time, and eforts to raising breast aware- ness in the African American community through numerous community outreaches and speaking engagements. www.TheSkanner.com The Skanner is a member of the National Newspaper Pub lishers Association and West Coast Black Pub lishers Association. All photos submitted become the property of The Skanner. We are not re spon sible for lost or damaged photos either solicited or unsolicited. ©2016 The Skanner. All rights re served. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission prohibited. Local News Paciic NW News World News Opinions Jobs, Bids Entertainment Community Calendar RSS feeds BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION #SkNews End to Homelessness Starts at Wapato H ow many readers would want to live in a dwell- ing with sewer lies? How about electrical wiring that smolders and emits a noxious odor? Seismi- cally unsound? No ire sprin- kler system? No kitchen and inadequate toilet facilities? On one of the most danger- ous intersection in Portland? A building considered by the County as “the lowest rated building in the entire inven- tory of County facilities”? No? At that building on July 7, County Chair, Deborah Kafoury told a standing-room only assembly she chose the Hansen Building, with these safety concerns and a cost of $140,000 for minor repairs, as a place good enough to house Portland’s homeless. Multnomah County has a better option at the Wapato facility, but Chair Kafoury steadfastly looks for ways to eliminate that site, saying, the location is too far away from downtown or Gresham, or that would cost $145,000 to make minor changes.” I do not believe her reasons are insurmountable. Wapato is a pristine, unused facility built in 2004 to the highest stan- dards of safety. Wapato’s nat- ural surroundings enhance a Harriet Heisey Guest Columnist seismically sound building; ADA compliant; free of lead contamination and sewer lies; with modern comfort “ exercise space and even a dog kennel for resident pets. Wapato’s structure in a job- rich location, with over 115 companies within easy walk- ing, biking, or bus distance, has the potential to end the cy- cle of homelessness. Tri-Met’s Rivergate bus #11 serves Wap- ato and connects to MAX at the Expo Center. Entry-level to family-wage jobs, with ben- eits, are currently advertised on A-board signs throughout purpose and Transition Proj- ects, the proposed operator of the County’s facility, is a non-proit organization. Al- ternatively, the County could staf some or all of Wapato with County employees. Critics allege a stigma at- taches to the building even though never utilized as a correctional facility. Look at the success of McMenam- in’s Edgeield (former Mult- nomah County Poor Farm) Built as a self-contained, full-service facility in a cam- pus environment, Wapato provides 525 beds, adequate shower/toilet facilities, a commercial kitchen, laundry, and dining hall systems. It can ofer dorms to separate men, women, cou- ples and teens. Built as a self-contained, full-service facility in a cam- pus environment, Wapato provides 525 beds, adequate shower/toilet facilities, a commercial kitchen, laundry, and dining hall. Generous open spaces provide options for education and job train- ing. There is also space for drug/alcohol treatment and medical care. It is beautifully landscaped with public art, the neighborhood, many of- fering job training. What bet- ter location for a population that wants to work and needs a chance? Critics claim this use isn’t compliant with Wapato’s i- nancing. According to Mult- nomah County’s 2014 Request for Interest for the Acqui- sition and Repurposing of the Facility, penalties exist if Wapato is used for private purposes prior to bond re- payment. Housing the home- less is a public, not private and planned redevelopment of the Troutdale Jail as a hotel to see the fallacy of this argu- ment. Unlike the Hansen Build- ing, (12240 N.E. Glisan Street) Wapato ofers the County an opportunity to break the cy- cle of homelessness with on- site health and employment services in a safe environ- ment. Why warehouse the homeless in an unsafe build- ing when the County can safe- ly get them to self-suiciency at Wapato?