Clarion Defender_1970-01-15

Comments The conti<·ming incidents involving Black and t<lhite students, and me:nbers o! the faculty at Roosevelt High School necessitntes the urgency of this correspondence, which is being directed to your office at the request of the recently formed Black Coalition. This Coali– tion is comprised of parents of students actively attending Roosevelt, as well as parents of stu– dents presently under expulsion or suspension. It is also comprised of members of organizations, (3ocial and Service), and the Linisterial Alliance within the .U bina connuni t:.T, &11 of which services lJhich cirectl7 effects t:1e lives of the Black people -of ?ortltJ.nd in virtually all aspects, in– clueing educatiol1. In reiterating the urgency of this correspondence, and the representation of the Coalition, it should • be clearly- u.11derstooc. that tl1is is NOT an attempt to establish polic-.1 for the Portland School Admin– istration, but it is an attempt to persuade the Administration to focus attention on the issue at hand, to wit: racial injustices at Roosevelt High School and other institutions of learning throughout the Cit:r of Portland. The incidents which occurred at Roosevelt during the past few days are not by ar~ means isolated or new; they were prevalent in the past, they are prevalent now, and they shall co~tinue to prevail tU,}ess those officials, charged with providing an education for the Black youths of Portland, recoenize that racism is not just individualized, but institutionalized, as well. The Black Coalition is cogniza:!'lt that matters per– tainin~ to educational or diciplinary ~tters are nonnally left to tl!e discretio:J. of elected or appointed officials and in'\""olvement by- those out– side of the Educatio:tel Structure is by invi·tatiol'l o~y·. The r:1ethoc1, l1o~..rever, by w:rlch the recent incidents :'lt .8.oosevelt were handled, coupled with the nanner in which past htcidents ~:~.t other schools in Port– land have been handled indicated an established pattern for fortland Public Schools, and in the opinion of the Black coalitjon, supported in it's entirety by the vast majority of the Black Com– munity, this established pattern htl.s the City of PortlanC. on a "collision course with disaster, with the end result beinG none other t:1a::1 tra,:;ic. 11 Att.,ached is a list of ~rievances and demands that w-e feel are absolutel;:- L'ilperative to be responded to r~vorl".ble if we, as 3lac~cs, are to be assured of the due process oZ an edu– catio~ conducive to ALL Ar.,erica. These demands are Non-negotiable and we appeal for your response by 9:CO a.m. Thursday, January 15, 1970. Unless your response is forthcoming at the snecified time, as well as in the interest . ~~ of the col!'Ji'D.l::lity we shall have no o ~,~1er alternative than to continue the present bo·:cott of Roosevelt Eigh and initia ':.e cor:i– mu;_g:r approved plans to exten~ their action throuzhout the City of Fortl~~c. I.:1 closin~, ,.,e wish to w.al: e it eJ?ressly clear that the total resources oZ :::ner.:bers or tl1is con:cd-t.teo are available to assist your office in resolving this r1atter. BI,~~cr.: I'AI~7nER FAR'I'Y CF PORTLAND .:..LB:::?;a CITilZN3 COUNCIL BLiCK BSRETT }~'vidence of tL."lacceptG.ble practices, acts, policies and procedures in the ?ortl;:;.nd 3chool system as dete~ined by the PARENTS AND BLACK CO}l(UNITY CCALITIOIJ. 1. -~/anton l!ibuse and .:-.rrest of Black students without any efforts to ascertain facts. 2. Of prejudging Blac~ studen Gs, .~s to conduct and GUilt, based upon previous student ex– periences. 3. 1lrbitrar.r suspension. of Black students who have pernissio:1 to be out of class. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. c /0 lC. 11. 12. 1.3. 14. .\rbitrary expulsions of Black students without just cause. Failure on the part of school adrr.inistrators to follow existinc procedures and euidelines, dealing with suspensions and expulsions. Failure on the part of school administrators to comnunicate and to relate to staff and students alike as to established procedures and guideli:nes dealing with suspe11sions and expulsions. Of administrator and. staff abuse of Black students, both physically and verbally. Gf false and m~licious writinE: a:1d submittint; of reports on Black students on the part of the school investigation departreent. Of lack of sensi-t-ivity n.nd a-wareness of the delimenas and frustrations of black stude~ts, by Adr.tinistrntors anO. Staf!'. C.f c~:oricious intent on the p~rt of the total a.dr :-.inistr~tion to misinterpret everythi:lG about Black people. Cf uhite students and white adults intimi– dating, harrassing and assaultinz Black students without any efforts on the part o! the school adr-inistration to t~ke the necessary steps to alleviate such acts. That the arn.ed police in the school premises is merely aidin; and abetting the 1xnfair tre~tnent of Black students, ~nd is a threat to their personal safety. Of discriminatory practices on the part of coaches toward Black student athletes. Of discriminat.ory· hirinc prc.ctices, at all levels.