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Campus Love, Support Surviving a during COVID-19 Pandemic Karin Edwards on our Grassroots collective response to lender health crisis helps small See Cascade Connections, page 7 businesses See Local News, Established in 1970 page 3 PO QR code ‘City of www.portlandobserver.com Volume XLVIV • Number 12 Roses’ Wednesday •May 6, 2020 Committed to Cultural Diversity Important Election Looms Ballots out; PHOTO BY BEVERLY countdown begins CORBELL/THE BY MICHAEL LEIGHTON PORTLAND OBSERVER PORTLAND OBSERVER EDITOR Portland Attorney Voters in the May 19 Primary have less than two weeks Ernie Warren puts his to mark their ballots in an important vote-by-mail election 31 years as lawyer that will decide who wins many local offices outright or heading up his own sends their campaigns into a runoff in November. In ad- law firm and a lifetime dition, two ballot measures face ratification and adoption of pursing justice with a simple majority. issues as qualifications In Portland, a diverse field of candidates faces votes in a campaign for with candidates of color and clearly liberal credentials election as an Oregon running in all four contested races for seats on the Portland Circuit Court Judge for City Council, including mayor; an open position on the Multnomah County. Oregon Circuit Court in Multnomah County; and contest- ed positions for Metro Councilor and Oregon Secretary of State. The names of Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Ber- nie Sanders will appear on the Democratic Primary Ballot for President, but Biden is already the presumed nominee after beating Sanders in recent contests and holding what political experts say is an insurmountable lead. Sanders and Warren have already conceded, but in some cases they can collect more delegates for the party convention. A two-way race for Multnomah County District At- Warren Campaigns for Judge torney features Mike Schmidt, a former deputy DA and broker. But far from coddling his son, the senior Warren justice reform candidate who has won endorsements from Experience and community was insistent that his son learn the value of work. From civil rights and racial justice advocates versus Ethan O. the time he was just 9 years old, while other kids were Knight, another former deputy DA and assistant U.S. At- ties win accolades playing summer sports, Warren Jr. was expected to work torney who has endorsements from a wide swath of the legal establishment, prosecutors, police and firefighters. BY BEVERLY CORBELL and work hard. Two ballot measures face voters in Portland, a proposed THE PORTLAND OBSERVER Warren said he remembers joining his grandfather at Ernest “Ernie” Warren Jr., a seasoned Portland lawyer, the time, who would pick him up before daybreak, to go city measure to renew a 10-cent per gallon fuel tax to pay passionate civil and criminal defense attorney and long pick whatever produce was in season on local farms. for street repairs, maintenance and safety; and a proposed time advocate for pursing justice issues, is asking voters “So I know what it’s like to go out and pick berries and Metro tax on high incomes and business profits of over $5 to put him on the bench for an open seat on the Oregon beans all summer long and have your hands all stained million to pay for homeless services. Circuit Court for Multnomah County, one of six candi- with dirt,” he said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 dates running in Oregon’s May 19 vote-by-mail election. Warren said the values he learned growing up in a big Warren has been a mainstay in Portland’s African close knit family formed the basis for his lifelong involve- American community since his family migrated here from ment in the community. In 1990, he opened the first Afri- Texas in the 1930s and ‘40s. can American-owned law firm in the state with the goal of The Warren clan came to Portland from Pleasant Hill, “being a resource to the community, serving the common Texas after mechanization took their farming jobs, During good and steadfastly pursuing justice.” He said he was in- World War II, employment at ESCO Corporation, today spired by the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice a global manufacturer of metal parts, provided economic anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” opportunity. By the 1960s, there were more Warrens in “I’m running because I want to be a person who main- Portland than back in Texas, and like other second and tains justice and always do what is right,” Warren said. third generation members of the black community, they In his 31 years in practice serving a diverse clientele, were employed in many different professions. Warren earned a reputation as a passionate attorney and In an interview the Portland Observer, Warren told how his father, Ernest Warren Sr., was a successful insurance CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 Ballots for the May 19 vote by mail election are out. Page 2 May 6, 2020 Young Activist Runs for Metro Council coronavirus pandemic caused a tunities that have happened.” Position has no worldwide health crisis, said he Service to others is his life’s felt lucky that he had been able to calling, Whitten said, but his great incumbent in find successful employment and a passion is racial justice, and his career in public service. But while initial encounter with racism was crowded field he credited the support he’s had, he when he first got to Oregon. BY BEVERLY CORBELL also pointed to his own hard work “We were in Albany and went THE PORTLAND OBSERVER to make a productive life for him- there to stay at my friend’s dad’s When Cameron Whitten moved self. house, but after one night the dad to Portland at age 18, he had no To focus on his campaign, asked us to leave because he was place to live and no resources, but Whitten ended his tenure as exec- uncomfortable having a black man a local nonprofit with a long histo- utive director of the Q Center to in his house,” he said. “Coming ry of helping homeless youth took devote the time necessary to win from Virginia, where I never had him in. Now he wants to give back an election. Besides the Q Center experienced overt racism like that, and is running for the District 5 which offers programs to support it made no sense to me. I actually seat on the Portland Metro Coun- the LGBTQ+ community, Whitten laughed at myself and said, ‘What! cil, a regional government serving has served as founder of the racial There are racist people in Oregon?’ Multnomah, Clackamas and Wash- justice nonprofit Brown Hope, Ten years later I no longer find it ington counties. known for the Reparations Power funny.” “I was a client at Outside Inn, Hour and Blackstreet Bakery. He The historic racist devastation I had access to mentors, to meals, also serves on the boards of Reach of the black community in Port- to shelter, and I had advocates that Community Development and Pio- land by gentrification and so-called helped me enroll in school and be neer Courthouse Square. civic improvements or Urban Re- successful,” Whitten said, describ- A long time activist, Whitten newal, cannot be overstated, Whit- ing his experience with the organi- led protests following the deaths ten said. zation and a concern that too many of Trayvon Martin, Eric Gardner, “Place is so important. Place others, like he was 10 years ago, Sandra Bland and other people of shapes our identity, it shapes our are still vulnerable. color, and in 2012 he staged a 56- community and it shapes our fu- PHOTO BY BEVERLY CORBELL/THE PORTLAND OBSERVER “Our world is so broken right day hunger strike in front of City ture,” he said. “In Portland, we Steeped in Portland political activism for a decade, Cameron now, and I think the resources that Hall that focused attention on the took that from our black commu- Whitten is running for a seat on the Metro Council in the May currently exist do not adequate- suffering caused by the city’s hous- nity.” 19 Primary. He most recently served as executive director of the ly meet the needs we have,” he ing crisis. Whitten is so passionate about nonprofit Q Center and is founder of the racial justice nonprofit said. “There are people who are On top of all that, in 2016 he the loss to the black culture in north Brown Hope. extremely vulnerable with very in- earned his bachelor’s degree in and northeast Portland that he even tense challenge.” economics from Portland State ness administration. number of years I’ve been on this launched a walking tour, “The Hid- Whitten, in an interview with University, and he is currently “I’m 28 and the impact I have planet,” Whitten said. “But I think CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 the Portland Observer before the studying for his master’s in busi- made has been outsized to the it speaks to my passion and oppor- gized last week to people who have The encountered problems trying to ap- Established 1970 USPS 959 680 Week ply for unemployment during the 4747 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211 in coronavirus crisis. A record number The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submis- of people have applied for bene- sions. Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly Review fits, but many have been stymied labeled and will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed envelope. All created design display ads be- COVID Hospitalizations Fall by breakdowns in the system. “If come the sole property of the newspaper and cannot State officials reported the number be used in other publications or personal usage with- you’re waiting on an unemploy- out the written consent of the general manager, unless of Oregonians sick enough to be ment claim: I hear your frustration,” the client has purchased the composition of such ad.

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