A Fitting Choice Cinco De Mayo
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A Fitting Cinco de Choice Mayo Diversity Multicultural QR code for grounds race celebration Portland Observer Online for state rep begins Thursday See Local News, page 3 See Metro, page 11 Volume XLV www.portlandobserver.com Established in 1970 ‘City of Roses’ Number 18 Wednesday • May 4, 2016 Committed to Cultural Diversity Beaumont Middle School parent Mystique Pratcher and her daughter Emaujah outside the northeast Portland school. PHOTO BY CERVANTE POPE/THE PORTLAND OBSERVER to staff -- for talking too loud,” she Mother feels said. Pratcher said her daughter and Beaumont failed another student got into a mutual altercation on March 18. Each stu- her daughter dent was suspended for the spat, BY CERVANTE POPE yet only Emaujah was taken into THE PORTLAND OBSERVER Arrested police custody. Getting arrested isn’t an act any A school Disciplinary Action child should ever have to experi- Form documenting the fight, ence, yet for a 12-year-old girl, drafted by Student Management that traumatically scarring experi- Specialist Jennifer Bennett, has ence became a reality. at now been officially amended. An iteration of this story first Emaujah was described as the broke a few weeks ago when it aggressor in the original report, was reported that the young fe- School which did not mention the other male was taken into custody for mother Mystique Pratcher and cause a police report had not been “I’d already been having some student’s full level of involve- attacking another student and a discipline records from the north- filed. issues with students being treated ment. Both the principal and vice substitute teacher at Beaumont east Portland school. She says Beaumont has an is- different because of their race at principal of the school, Harriette Middle School. Pratcher said she was shocked sue of disciplining African Ameri- Beaumont,” she told the Portland Vimegnon and Ed Krankowski, While the date regarding the when Willamette Week published can and Latino students more than Observer. “Emaujah had 10 refer- wrote in follow-up correspon- fight and the arrest two weeks a story just two days after her anyone else, and claims that in her rals and all of them were for being dence feeling the first report was later was accurate, the full details daughter’s March 31 arrest. She daughter’s case, the infractions loud in the hallway, during pass- a poor representation of the actual behind the incident were missing calls foul on the school as the have been for minor things, like ing times. Not being loud in the or false, according to the girl’s source for the media coverage be- being too loud. classroom, not being disrespectful CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Page 2 May 4, 2016 email from Principal Vimegnon sion, a hearing between the fam- students,” Pratcher said. “They’re at saying that her daughter had been ily and school officials is held to just after Emaujah, trying to make Arrested School suspended in order to investigate determine a final course of action. it seem like she’s a ‘problem “I took her to school at 9 a.m. grounds for expulsion. The listed Emaujah’s hearing was held at an child.’ It’s classical conditioning. CONTINUED FROM FRONT and at about 9:45 a.m. I get a the reasons for her suspension as offsite location. They know if they approach in situation. call from Emaujah saying ‘Mom, “open defiance,” “insubordina- The over two hour long meet- a certain way that you’re going The amended discipline state- they’re trying to arrest me! I didn’t tion” and “willful disobedience.” ing addressed some of the issues to respond in a certain way, and ment has some facts in her daugh- do anything!’ And then the phone Pratcher is upset that the fi- at hand, yet didn’t tackle any of then you’re going to get a conse- ter’s favor, including an acknowl- hangs up,” Pratcher recalls. “So nal incident that got her daughter the questions both Pratcher and quence.” edgment that the other student I’m calling the office trying to into trouble was for having a cell other organization members also Pratcher plans to take this case swung at her first and the fact that figure out what’s going on [and phone on her desk in math class, present at the meeting had about to court on terms of defamation of another student present had shout- when someone answers] I hear her not in use, but for refusing to hand Beaumont’s conduct. The only character. Her frustration grows ed for Emaujah to be “left alone.” screaming and crying in the back- it over to her teacher when asked. real conclusion reached was that from not getting an adjudication A description of Emaujah calling ground.” Principal Vimegnon said Beau- Emaujah’s behavior did not con- hearing or a formal petition re- out that she wanted to “scrap” When Portland police came to mont does have a rule allowing stitute grounds for expulsion. garding the case, even after three with the other student involved Beaumont on the day of the arrest, students to have cell phones for Despite the school’s decision to attempts to contact the juvenile was removed. Emaujah was then handcuffed and academic reasons – such as cal- keep Emaujah at Beaumont, both facility. “Why would someone say transported to a juvenile facility culating – yet it was deemed by Pratcher and her daughter feel She’s been told the district at- ‘Leave Emaujah alone’ if my where she took a mugshot photo Emaujah’s teacher that her inten- uncomfortable with the school’s torney has not yet responded to daughter was being the aggres- and was fingerprinted. tions were non-academic. practices and have chosen to re- the juvenile facility’s request, sor?” Pratcher asks, “Emaujah has Upon returning to school, her Pratcher said if her daughter main at great distance. leaving the exact reasoning for her never been in trouble for fighting daughter received additional dis- recorded a video with her phone, “What student would want to daughter’s arrest still unanswered. at Beaumont.” cipline referrals for miscellaneous then everyone would believe her, come back after being treated like As it stands, there are still no offi- Neither the original nor the re- inane reasons, Pratcher said, the but says the school is so stern, it this? There are things happen- cial charges against her daughter. vised discipline form stated any- last of which led to her permanent wants to keep phones away from ing in the school that need to be “Somebody else needs to be thing about Emaujah striking the separation from the school. students. addressed. My daughter is being held accountable. No one is being substitute teacher. On April 15, she received an For students at risk of expul- traumatized and arrested under a held accountable for what they false report, like why is that not did. I can’t trust anybody. I’m the being addressed? The school is only person that can advocate for Wells Fargo Presents the being treated like a juvenile delin- her. She doesn’t know what’s go- quency center, but only to specific ing on, she’s 12,” Pratcher said. 2016 Good in the Hood The in Music and Food Festival Week Review Sprouting Recreational Leaves murder in the death of Ervaeua The Oregon Liquor Control Com- Ronchelle Herring who was killed June 24, 25, 26 mission has approved its first in August 2014 in a suspected group of marijuana growers under gang-related shooting at an apart- the new recreational system. Eight ment complex at Southeast 151st growers are the first to receive Rec- and Powell, reational Marijuana Producer li- police said censes, with the OLCC planning to Tuesday. issue around 850 licenses this year. Herring, 21, Right Ballot on its Way was preg- nant at the If you made a recent change to time she your political affiliation, you may was killed. end up receiving the wrong bal- DeAnthony lot in the mail, and a short delay Simmons, Geontae Brachaurd in receiving the updated one. Any Jones and Demetrius Ray Brown changes made close to the regis- also face burglary and weapons tration deadline should get their charges. new ballots next week, elections Saturday June 25th, at 11 AM, starting at King School officials said. Call to End Police 48-Hour Rule Airport Breastfeeding Rooms The Community Oversight Ad- visory Board formally requested As part of a series of changes to that both Mayor Charlie Hales and make Portland International Air- Police Chief Larry O’Dea nix the port more comfortable and conve- 48-hour rule, which gives officers nient, new lactation rooms opened Web—www.goodhood.org GITH hotline 971.302.6380 that use deadly force 48 hours be- up last week at PDX. The rooms are fore they are required to answer Volunteers needed—[email protected] designed for women traveling with any administrative questions. The or without infants that need a com- Want to be a sponsor—[email protected] rule is part of the police union’s fortable place to express breastmilk contract with the city, which ex- and to feed their children. Festival Participation—[email protected] pires in the middle of the year, so Three Charged in Woman’s Death the next mayor will likely have to Three men have been indicted for address the issue. Established 1970 ---------------------- USPS 959 680 ------------------ 4747 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211 PUBLISHER: Mark Washington, Sr. The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly labeled and will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed envelope.