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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 10, 2020)
A18 NEWS Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, June 10, 2020 BLM Continued from Page A1 These peacekeepers said they were sympathetic to the demonstrators’ cause and agreed that Floyd’s death was unjust and that America still has a problem with racial inequality. “There’s racism out there,” Greg Jackson said. “We all have to admit it.” Jackson said the racism goes “both ways.” “I’ve traveled all over the country, and I’ve seen black racists, I’ve seen racist against Chinese, Japanese and, you know, Asian races,” Jack- son said. “Everybody’s rac- ists. Birds of a feather flock together.” He said the racism is not so bad in America that it justi- fies the rioting and the looting that has taken place in many American cities. Jackson said, while he thought the violence could happen in John Day, it was unlikely it would. He said he was also concerned the orga- nizers would bus in outside protestors. “I don’t understand why they’re coming to John Day,” Jackson said. “We obviously had nothing to do with George Floyd.” Jackson said he supports a protest if there is a reason for it. “I think we’ve been, should have been, doing a lot more protesting with the shutdown,” Jackson said. “Because that was constitutionally illegal, in my opinion.” Durr agreed with the pro- testers’ sentiment regarding Floyd. “To me, I find it embarrass- ing for my profession that we have people that do that,” Durr said. “We’re not out there to punish people. We’re out there to hold them accountable, Store Continued from Page A1 access approach to U.S. High- way 26. “From my understanding with conversations with the Zaremba Group is that this pro- posed investment and purchase of the land has already been approved by the Dollar General Corporate Office,” Green said. “It’s real. People always won- der if this is real, and yes, this is real. They would not be apply- ing for a site design review if they were not ready to make the investment.” Right now the preliminary plat and the final plat for the Contributed photo/Liz Aleman Justin Davis, left, and Ashley Stevick Friday after the Black Lives Matter rally in John Day. Kate Cueno, left, and Darin Toy march with their two kids along Third Street toward Chester’s Thriftway Friday in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. and there’s a big difference between that and what we saw on the video.” Durr said all Americans should also be embarrassed about the violence and the rioting that took place during some demonstrations. “One of our constitutional rights is to protest peacefully,” Durr said. “And I am really disappointed when a portion of the crowd decides to burn buildings, cause property damage and loot. I don’t see any excuse for that.” Grant County Sher- iff Glenn Palmer said he did not see the images or footage of Floyd’s arrest and death. As the march winded down, Palmer said the protest overall had been “quiet.” Another small group of counterprotesters also gath- ered downtown. When asked what they thought of the sit- uation, Evan Hodge said, “I think these dumb (expletives) need to get the (expletive) out of our town. And if you’re one of them, you can get the (expletive) out too.” Stevick said out of the nearly 140 people who gath- ered together, fewer than 10 were not from Grant County, rant their attention,” he said. Robertson said he saw the footage of Floyd’s death. “I was as horrified as when I watched the video of LaVoy Finicum being murdered by white police officers and the unnamed Asian shopkeeper being beaten with two-by-fours yesterday by five black people and the internet videos of white cops being shot and killed by black drivers pulled over on the freeway,” he said. “The jus- tice system will judge the four officers (charged in relation to Floyd’s death), hopefully with more veracity than the court of public opinion comprised pre- dominantly of people who pro- test for entertainment but really do nothing to solve true social issues have.” Robertson said he has “experienced firsthand the bigotry and discrimination directed at all colors of peo- ple by all colors of people; nobody has a monopoly on racism. That’s why I believe it’s primarily about abuse of power rather than race. When people have nearly unchecked power over other people, abuse is certain to follow. These protest marches are distractions from getting The Eagle/Steven Mitchell land Dollar General is going to build on has been approved by the city. “As a result of our efforts, we’ve got a new Dollar Gen- eral that’s gonna go in across Napa, and I’m not talking just the city’s effort, I am talking about the community at large,” Green said. Green added that the city spent the past four years plan- ning and financing various public improvement projects such as street improvements, downtown improvements and the new wastewater treatment plant to try and encourage pri- vate sector investment. He also said the city is work- ing with local land developers and they had ties to the area. Stevick said there was a definite distinction between the peacekeepers and the counterprotesters. “While it was physically uncomfortable to walk past cit- izens and their guns, and while I do think it was meant to be intimidating, I also understand that they were afraid,” Stevick said, referring to looting and violence in other locations. Stevick said a few of the armed peacekeepers came back to her house and talked with the protestors after- ward. She said it was very encouraging. “I ask now that we don’t antagonize and that we engage in thoughtful discussion with- out demonizing either side,” she said. Stevick said afterward that the demonstration had been peaceful, and the group shined a light on the racial inequality across the country. Shaun Robertson, the pres- ident of the Grant County Farm Bureau, said he believed the protest was hypocriti- cal. In town shopping, he said he joined friends among the counterprotesters and stayed because he “wanted to see the demonstration of hypocrisy” himself. “Some of the marchers are the biggest bigots in Grant County,” he said. “Teachers who plaster their walls with so-called ‘progressive’ mes- sages, lecture on their per- sonal opinion not within their curriculum and then bully stu- dents who have contrary opin- ions. Government employees who hide behind their employ- ment protections and use their power and privilege for retri- bution against critics. Elitists who lecture about inclusive- ness and respect for diversity but treat locals with disdain and contempt and who really only consider more extreme versions of their own voices.” Robertson said news of looting and violence else- where was concerning. He said “extremist groups will resort to anything to disrupt other peo- ple’s lives.” He said he was not aware of police brutality being an issue in Grant County but misuse of police powers for personal agendas was a problem. “Apparently, since that dis- crimination is directed at white people, it doesn’t fit the march- ers’ narrative and doesn’t war- and firms like Iron Triangle, Len’s Drug, the Sheedys, the Priday hotel group and other business owners to encour- age and incentivise growth and revitalization along Main Street and that it’s great to see these projects coming to fruition. “There’s always some ten- sion between new businesses coming in and our existing businesses,” Green said. “I want to recognize the efforts our local businesses are put- ting in to improve our commu- nity as well. These investments will benefit all of us in the long run by increasing our land val- ues, widening the tax base and making our community more attractive to new residents.” Reopening Continued from Page A1 Oregon Health Authority Director Pat- rick Allen said that the state would come up with the guidelines, but it would be up to local school districts to decide how best to implement the rules. “Every school and every school district is different,” he said. Decisions on colleges and universities have not yet been finalized. Phase 2 would allow for sports training by college football teams and others, following rules on social distancing and contact. But Brown said she wanted “our Ducks and Beavers ready to tackle the Huskies and Cougars” anytime the OK was given for games. Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the state’s health officer and epidemiologist said the state at the real heart of the issues.” John Day resident Jus- tin Davis, who is black, said, while he does not speak for all African Americans, he felt compelled to participate in the protest. “I’m not going to try and speak for all black people because I don’t,” Davis said. “But I am the only one here, and if these people are here doing this for me, I could show up.” Another African American resident who requested not to be named had a different view. “I do realize some people are trying to help, and I appre- ciate the efforts they are mak- ing for change, but at the same time in my eyes, what are a few white folks from John Day going to change?” he said. He said he had been pulled over three times this month, and every time, the offi- cer walked up with a weapon drawn even when both of his hands were on the wheel. “I don’t even own a weapon,” he said. He said on multiple occa- sions in Grant County, he has heard residents refer to “col- ored people.” “I had an older lady come into my work with her hus- band, and when I was done helping them, the lady said to her husband as they were walk- ing away she didn’t like a col- ored person serving her food and that they needed to come back when I was gone,” he said. But he said he felt like the protest in John Day was people jumping on a trend on social media — virtue signaling, at best. He said the gun-carrying “peacemakers” also weren’t helpful. “How is someone of color supposed to feel when, whether it’s at work or on the streets or at home, someone is carrying a gun?” he said. would be watching statistics in each county closely. If goals are not met, he said that counties would not revert to Phase 1, but would have to institute heightened mea- sures to curb any problem areas. “Reopening is not an on-off switch,” he said. Upticks in any numbers would be a “caution light.” “We may need to dial back permitted activities,” he said. In earlier phases of the crisis, the state urged people to stay at home and not ven- ture out for any but the most crucial needs, such as medical appointments or buy- ing food. Sidelinger said that if people do leave home, they should enjoy the out- doors, where transmission of the virus is less likely. “Being outside is safer than being inside,” Sidelinger said. “We’re very good at doing that in Oregon in the summer.” Michael B. DesJardin Dentistry, PC Preventive, Restorative & Endodontics New Patients Welcome! Mendy Sharpe FNP Apppointments available S191194-1 139101 S191206-1 Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Friday 8am - 5pm Friday Sharpe 8am - 5pm Mendy FNP 541-523-6377 541-963-6577 541-573-6377 541-576-2160 208 NW Canton John Day 541-575-2725 mbddental@live.com michaelbdesjardinmd.com S164452-1 S189136-1
