2017 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ‘City of Roses’ Special Edition www.portlandobserver.com Established in 1970 Volume XLVI • Number 2 Wednesday • January 11, 2017 Committed to Cultural Diversity Page 2 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. January 11, 2017 2017 special edition Kate Brown Sworn In versity is not a threat; it is, in fact Making it clear The our greatest strength,” Merkley that the fight for Week said. equality will not in PCC Chair Quits Post retreat after the Review The chair of Portland Communi- most bitter and ty College board has resigned to divisive national ple with disabilities because of protest a recent decision to make election in mem- $338 in back due rent. the college a sanctuary campus. ory, Kate Brown Bracing for More Snow Gene Pitts said his concern was was sworn in to her first full term Just as Portland began to thaw for students losing their feder- as governor of Oregon Monday. In out from a weekend of snow and al Pell grants, should the federal her speech, she outlined plans to freezing rain, a new storm front is government under the Trump ad- address job creation, reforming Or- expected to hit the city overnight ministration penalize sanctuary egon’s tax system, public transpor- Tuesday into Wednesday morn- designations that deny federal im- tation funding, passing gun control ing, bringing an accumulation of migration enforcement. legislation and expanding the state’s 1-4 inches of snow. Medicaid program for all children. Viola Davis Honored Third Hypothermia Death Merkley Wants Registry Ban “Moonlight,” the critically and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon audience acclaimed coming of Athird homeless person has died introduced legislation Friday that age story of an African American from hypothermia in Portland, the Firefighters respond when a fire erupts at the Hotel Alder, displac- would block the creation of any boy in the South won Best Mo- third this month blamed on living ing low-income housing residents, downtown. national immigration-related reg- tion Picture at the Golden Globe outside in freezing temperatures. istry program that classifies people Awards Sunday. Viola Davis won Karen Batts, 52, was found dead based upon their religion, race, age, Best Supporting Actress for her at a downtown parking garage on Fire Victims Given Shelter gender, ethnicity, national origin or portrayal of Rose in Denzel Wash- Saturday. Records show she was Central City Concern, the hous- teers also helped with replacing citizenship. “Contrary to the Pres- ington’s directorial adaptation of evicted last October from afford- ing provider which operates the eye glasses, prescriptions, serving ident-elect’s beliefs, America’s di- August Wilson’s “Fences.” able housing for seniors and peo- low-income Hotel Alder apart- warm meals and providing beds ments, hopes to find permanent for 70 people. Other residents housing by the end of the week for stayed with loved ones. 62 residents displaced by a fire at Officials have determined that the complex. Repairs to the build- the 3 alarm fire was caused by ing may allow other residents to the historic building’s mechani- return in two weeks, officials said. cal problems. Significant water The Jan. 4 fire displaced 98 res- and smoke damage affected three idents in total. Many were given floors. temporary shelter within a few Central City Concern is accept- hours of the fire at a nearby church ing cash donations, emergency and later at a new temporary shel- clothing and other items to help ter at Portland State University’s fire victims. Visit centralcitycon- Howard Hall. Red Cross volun- cern.org/donates. Cover Art by Lori A. Martin (LORIBYDESIGN) Established 1970 ---------------------- USPS 959 680 ------------------ 4747 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211 The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly labeled and will be returned if accompanied by a PUBLISHER: Mark Washington, Sr. self addressed envelope. 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The Portland Observer--Oregon’s Oldest EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Rakeem Washington Multicultural Publication--is a member of the National Newspaper Association--Founded in 1885, and The National Advertising Representative Amalgamated ADVERTISING MANAGER: Leonard Latin Publishers, Inc, New York, NY, and The West Coast Black Publishers Association Office Manager/Classifieds:Lucinda Baldwin CALL 503-288-0033 FAX 503-288-0015 CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Paul Neufeldt [email protected] • [email protected] REPORTER/WEB EDITOR: Christa McIntyre [email protected] PUBLIC RELATIONS: Mark Washington Jr. Postmaster: Send address changes to Portland Observer , REPORTER: Zachary Senn PO Box 3137 , Portland, OR 97208 PO QR code January 11, 2017 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. Page 3 2017 special edition This page INSIDE Sponsored by: The in Week Review page 2 LOCAL NEWS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. Alarmed by Trump Professor sees CALENDAR page 23 parallels to era of Martin Luther King Jr. OBITUARY page 28-29 BY ZACHARY SENN THE PORTLAND OBSERVER As the nation transitions from its first black OPINION pages 30-31 president to an incoming president-elect who ran his campaign on divisive and racially-charged lan- guage, an expert in race relations at Portland State University sees parallels between our current time and the era of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Shirley Jackson is a professor and chair of the Black Studies Department at PSU. Since as- suming her position in January of last year, she has continued the department’s nearly 50-year legacy of educating students and the community at large about the issues facing communities of color in the Shirley Jackson Portland area. Jackson says one of the defining characteristics Jackson cites between then and now, are fears for of MLK’s civil rights era was political activism by the future of free speech, with activists and students students, the response to injustices that she believes of color “feeling as though their voices are going to has once again reached a fever-pitch on today’s be stifled with the new administration coming in.” campuses. Jackson says that modern-day activists should page 33 “We do see students on college campuses again also prepare to face the same repercussions that METRO taking the lead, as they did in the 1960s… Pushing for answers,” she says. However, one big difference CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 Drum Major Ecumenical Service panel discussion, “Where do we Panel go from here,” led by moderator Bill Deiz. discussion to It has a been a tradition at the Drum Major celebration for a key- highlight MLK note speaker to address the con- gregation, but when Pastor Hen- celebration nessee saw the fears, anger and BY CHRISTA MCINTYRE sadness which have risen in the THE PORTLAND OBSERVER community since the recent pres- One of the oldest African idential election, he decided to ad- American congregations in the dress them with a panel of speak- state, the Vancouver Avenue First ers to cover a diverse cross section Baptist Church, will host people of community and city leaders. of faith from across the state this Members of the panel are Rab- weekend to honor of the late civil bi Michael Cahana from Congre- rights leader Dr. Rev. Martin Lu- gation Beth Israel, Attorney and ther King Jr. Portland Urban League President The two-day commemoration Nkenge Harmon Johnson, U.S. of Dr. King’s work for justice, District Attorney of Oregon Billy Rev. Matt Hennessee peace and righteousness will be- J. Williams, Portland Police Chief pages gin Saturday, Jan. 14 with a noon church’s main sanctuary, 3138 N. Mike Marshman, Executive Di- 32-38 luncheon in the church fellowship Vancouver Ave. rector of Ecumenical Ministries Arts hall to honor students and com- Pastor J.W. Matt Hennessee of Oregon Jan Elfers, Director ENTERTAINMENT munity members who live their will lead the service. Pastor E.D. of the Muslim Education Trust & lives in the drum major spirit of Mondainé will sing the African Wajdi Said, Multnomah Coun- King; and conclude with the an- American National Anthem, and ty District Attorney Rod Under- nual Drum Major Awards and Ec- Gov. Kate Brown and new Mayor hill, Nathaniel Williams of Unify umenical Service on Sunday, Jan. Ted Wheeler will share a few brief page 38 CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 CLASSIFIEDS 15, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the words. A special focus will be a Page 4 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. January 11, 2017 2017 special edition A Refuge for Immigrants in Uncertain Times Pastor Knutson was on the Pastor leads coast, presiding over a sea burial, when the call came in that Immi- movement for gration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was attempting to deport social justice Aguirre. Without hesitation, he told his staff to take Aguirre in. BY CHRISTA MCINTYRE Aguirre spent the first night sleep- THE PORTLAND OBSERVER Pastor Mark Knutson is a na- ing on the red carpeted church tional leader in a movement for altar, a place where Knutson cel- social justice for immigrants ebrates communion with his con- struggling to obtain legal status gregation and delivers sermons in the United States. Northeast many times on weekends. Portland’s Augustana Lutheran ICE is the country’s second Church, a multicultural congrega- largest criminal investigative tion where he serves as a spiritual agency, next to the FBI under the Department of Homeland Securi- ty. Once an immigrant enters the U.S.