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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 2017)
JANUARY 4, 2017 Portland and Seattle Volume XXXIX No. 14 25 CENTS News ...............................3,9,10 A & E .....................................6-7 Opinion ...................................2 Dr. Jasmine ....................10 Calendars ........................... 4-5 Bids/Classifieds ....................11 CHALLENGING PEOPLE TO SHAPE A BETTER FUTURE NOW PHOTO BY THAIDRAGON27 (CC BY-SA 3.0) VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS A NEW DAY Millions of women’s rights supporters are expected march in Washington, D.C. and at solidarity marches around the world on Jan. 21. Jan. 21 event includes marches in D.C., Portland, Seattle By Christen McCurdy Of The Skanner News W omen’s rights supporters across the country — and all over the world — are ready to march. Based on registration numbers so far, millions of women will turn up for the Women’s March on Washington in Washington D.C., and tens of thousands will participate in solidarity marches in Portland and Seattle. Marches will take place Jan. 21, the day after President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated. “This isn’t a protest against Trump, See MARCH on page 3 PHOTO COURTESY OF MULTNOMAH COUNTY Women Gear Up to March Chair Deborah Kafoury (left) and Commissioners Sharon Meieran, Jessica Vega Pederson, Lori Stegmann and Loretta Smith pose at a swearing-in ceremony Tuesday. The new board of commissioners is the first all-female, majority-minority board in the county’s history. All-Women, Majority–Minority Board of Commissioners Sworn In Tuesday New County Commission aims to represent diversity of the county AP PHOTO/PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS By Melanie Sevcenko Of The Skanner News T In this Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014 file photo, President Barack Obama, center, greets supporters at a campaign event for U.S. Senate candidate Gary Peters and gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. Obama’s Final Briefing page 9 Experts Recommend The HPV Vaccine for page 10 Ages 11-26 uesday marked a milestone for Mult- nomah County with the swearing-in of three new commissioners to its county board. For the first time in the county’s history, the board is com- prised of all women, with the majority of its mem- bers being people of color. In a morning ceremo- ny, the county welcomed Asian-American Commis- sioner Lori Stegmann of District 4, Commissioner Sharon Meieran of Dis- trict 1, and Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson of District 3, who was elected in 2012 as the first Latina in the Oregon House of Rep- resentatives. The board is rounded out by African American Com- missioner Loretta Smith of District 2, who has held her position since 2010, and County Chair Deborah Kafoury. “District 3 is really at the heart of Multnomah Coun- ty,” Jessica Vega Pederson told The Skanner shortly after being sworn in. Ped- erson’s diverse district encompasses the western edge of Portland’s Laurel- hurst neighborhood, south along the city’s thorough- fare Cesar Chavez Bou- levard, and East at 148th Avenue. “I think being a woman of color and repre- senting my district is a re- ally good fit.” Pederson, who lives in East Portland with her family, said her primary goals include, “making sure that we’re serving all people of Multnomah County in a way that is eq- uitable and allows access to prosperity.” She also added that the variety of perspectives and backgrounds of the commissioners will likely See BOARD on page 3 Pam Grier to Visit Portland’s Black Film Festival Festival to include variety of old classics and newer works By Melanie Sevcenko Of The Skanner News I n recent years, the studio system has come under fire for its glaring lack of diversity. Remember Oscar night 2015? Not a single person of color was nominat- ed across all four acting categories. While it’s only slightly improved for minorities amidst the top ranks of Hollywood, the often independent yet nevertheless bona fide Black film industry, continues to persevere. So leave it to Portland’s Hollywood Theatre to ring in a new year by toasting excellence in African Amer- ican filmmaking. The annual 2017 Portland Black Film Festival will run for two weeks (Feb. 9 – 22) at the his- toric cinema, presenting a host of old classics, new documentaries and one very special guest. “As with every year, the Portland Black Film Festival strives to show- case a diverse and eclectic selection See FILM on page 3 Writer James Baldwin, featured in new documentary ‘I Am Not Your Negro’
