Beloved Boxing Minority Coach Dies at 88 Contractors Chuck Lincoln was a Achieve Equity champion fighter and Convention Center community mentor work surpasses See story, page 2 expectations Established in 1970 See Metro, page 6 PO QR code ‘City of www.portlandobserver.com Volume XLVIV • Number 19 Roses’ Wednesday • August 19, 2020 Committed to Cultural Diversity A Reckoning on Race Police stand outside from The Cheerful Tortoise bar near Portland State University after the June 29, 2018 shooting of Jason Washington, a black Navy veteran, father and postal worker who was shot and killed by Portland State University police when a gun he was legally able to carry fell to the ground while trying to break up a fight. Thursday, PSU announced it will disarm its campus police force to meet community expectations. PSU to Disarm Demetria Hester, second from left, leaves the Multnomah County Justice Center after being arrested on Aug. 10 during a protest and then having the charges dismissed. Hester, who survived a racist attack by Jeremy Christian on TriMet three years ago, works with white moms in Portland’s racial justice movement, women she says have impressed her with their commitment to “getting woke” — educating themselves about Portland’s racist history and Campus Police the extent of their privilege as white Americans. (AP photo) School changes course after Sparks fly in role of allies in justice movement ‘listening to many voices’ BY GILLIAN FLACCUS “It’s a perfect storm with everything that’s been hap- (AP) -- More than two months of intense protests in pening, and add to that the attention of the world being on Portland State University will disarm its campus police Portland have captured the world’s attention and put a Portland, Oregon, right now — we have a unique space,” force more than two years after officers from the depart- place that’s less than 6% Black at the heart of the conver- said Sam Thompson, who founded the group Black Men ment shot and killed a Black man who was trying to break sation about police brutality and systemic racism. and Women United last month to push the movement to- up a fight close to campus. Since May, nightly demonstrations in Oregon’s largest ward long-term Black resilience. Willie Halliburton, the university’s new campus safe- city have featured overwhelmingly white crowds — from “If those people weren’t there and they weren’t protest- ty chief, and a retired police officer from Portland’s Af- middle-aged mothers marching arm in arm to the mayor ing to the level they are now, we wouldn’t be having this rican American community, said he thinks his decision, getting tear-gassed by federal agents to teenagers dressed conversation 2 1/2 months later,” he said. As white people announced Thursday by university officials, will bring in black smashing police precinct windows and tossing see the protests, “when the person that looks like you is healing to the PSU campus. fireworks at authorities. breaking the windows and starting the fires, you deal with He said PSU public safety officers will no longer car- The weeks of often-chaotic protests have transformed that a lot differently than when it’s someone who doesn’t ry guns, confident they “can do an effective job without Portland into a microcosm of the national debate on race look like you.” weapons.” and police brutality. It’s also prompted introspection about Portland’s movement has carried a current of tension “This is a historical event in the world of police work,” the role of white demonstrators in the Black Lives Matter as the Black community and white protesters navigate Halliburton said in a video release to the community. “I movement and what it means to be a white ally in this a complex racial calculus: In one of the largest majori- understand it will have its challenges. But it is the right transformational moment. ty-white cities in America, how can white residents sup- thing to do for Portland State.” The violence and vandalism that have marked the protests, port Black rights without making themselves the story? PSU President Stephen Percy said campus officials will often done by white people, have divided the Black commu- That’s a delicate question in a progressive city with find new ways to protect the safety of its campus commu- nity, along with a debate over what’s next. Some want to keep a deeply racist past. Portland, a focal point of the Black marching, while others want to use the momentum to work CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 with elected officials on cementing long-term change. Page 2 August 19, 2020 Beloved Boxing No Charges for Non-Violent Protesters law and still holds accountable New D.A. cites people who commit violent acts or Coach Dies at 88 intentionally damage property. Charles ‘Chuck’ Lincoln Sr. • 1932 - 2020 court system; “Committing a crime is differ- ent from demonstrating,” Lovell Charles “Chuck” Lee Lincoln inequities said in a statement. “The arrests Sr., a beloved Portland boxing (AP) — People arrested in Port- we make often come after hours champion and coach, and father to land since late May on non-violent of damage to private property, dis- his community, has died at the age misdemeanor charges during the ruption of public transit and traffic of 88. Lincoln transitioned home Black Lives Matter protests that on public streets, thefts from small peacefully on Aug. 7, 2020. have racked the city for more than businesses, arson, burglary, attacks He was born in Beaumont, two months won’t be prosecuted. on members of the community, and Texas on July 26, 1932. The fam- The new policy announced last attacks against police officers.” ily relocated to Portland in 1942. week recognizes the outrage and The city’s protests have domi- After attending Benson High frustration over a history of racial nated local news and made inter- school, he joined the U.S Army in injustice that has led to the city’s national headlines since the police 1953. During his military career, often violent protests and the prac- killing of George Floyd, a Black he served in the Korean War and tical realities of the court system, man who died after a white Min- boxed for the U.S. Army. Multnomah County District At- neapolis police officer held a knee Chuck was a Golden Glove torney Mike Schmidt said. It is Mike Schmidt to his neck for nearly eight min- Champion and professional box- Chuck is a Portland legend. Ev- running more than two months be- perceive to be structural inequities utes. Consecutive nights of unrest er. After his boxing career, he eryone knew and loved him. hind in processing cases because in our basic social fabric. And this last month that increasingly tar- was hired in 1959 by the city of He was one of 10 children born of COVID-19. frustration can escalate to levels geted a federal courthouse in Port- Portland Parks and Recreation as to Horace and Beulah Lincoln. As a result, at least several hun- that violate the law,” Schmidt said. land prompted President Donald a coach and trainer for the Knott He was preceded in death by his dred people arrested over the past He added: “This policy ac- Trump to dispatch U.S. agents to Street Community Center. The parents; five brothers; and three few months will not face criminal knowledges that centuries of dis- guard the building. rest is history. Every afternoon, sisters. He is survived by a sister prosecution, according to statis- parate treatment of our black and The presence of the agents 150 or more neighborhood kids Alice McKinney-Muhammad of tics provided by Schmidt’s office. brown communities have left deep from U.S Customs and Border flowed through the doors of Knott Riverside, Calif.; three daughters, The same no prosecution policy wounds and that the healing pro- Protection, U.S. Immigration and Street Center. Kathleen White (Bill) of Portland, applies to those arrested on similar cess will not be easy or quick.” Customs Enforcement and the As a professional trainer, he Charleen Lincoln of Atlanta, and charges in future demonstrations, Portland Police Chief Chuck U.S. Marshals Service was aimed produced Golden Glove, National, Sherisice Marks (Larry) of Van- he said. Lovell, informed of the impending at quelling the demonstrations but Olympic and professional cham- couver; five sons, Charles Lee “The protesters are angry ... and policy change last week, said the instead reinvigorated the Black pions. He trained and coached 9 of Lincoln Jr., Horace Gregory Lin- deeply frustrated with what they decision does not change Oregon Lives Matter movement. 10 national champions from 1961 coln and Derrick Louis Lincoln to 1972. Just to name a few of his and stepsons Timothy Barrow and fighters, includes Ray Lampkin, Anson Barrow, all of Portland; trafficking when they murdered #1 World ranked contender, Thad granddaughters Divina Jenkins The in Run DMC’s Jam Master Jay almost Spencer #1 World ranked con- (Emmanuel), Lateshia Wesby, 2 decades ago, according to an in- tender, Michael Colbert AKA Ad- Sara Nicole, Carrington Davis, Week Review dictment against the suspects that ofo Akil, #1 World ranked, Pete Alexis Johnson; grandsons Ja- Police Office Targeted received reports of protesters chasing was unsealed Monday in New York. Gonzales #5 World rank, Tommy son Marks (Molly) and Matthew Demonstrators marched to the a truck a few blocks from the federal The pioneering DJ Jason Mizell Thomas, Tony Jacobs, Johnny Mitchell; great-grandchildren Portland Police Association on courthouse where Black Lives Mat- was shot in the head at point-blank Howard, Wade Smith, Bill Cross, Carlos Causey, Elijah Jenkins, North Lombard Monday night, ter protesters were gathered.