Portland Advocate_1981-08

~ .. ~ - pageS EDITORIALS Rise! Mig.hty People Riset It is quite interesting to hear complaints from Black and white folk about Reagan and his band of renegades, but we must admit somebody voted for him. Also, we must constantly be aware of increased Klan act~ vity, Black children being de– stroyed physically and intellec– tually, a "get tough", "crack down' attitude affecting large numbers o f poor and Black peo– ple, the re-birth of states' rights, and alleged Black lea– ders backing away from their opposition , when the opposition gives them a few pieces of sil– ver. Dr . King should have turned over in his grave a thousand --- times by now. The time has come to respond to the call of "up you mighty people", because Blacks are be– ing told daily, we should have gotten while the gettin' was good. Most assuredly, Garvey's call for concerted action is timeless, and necessary for breaking a cyclical process that keeps Black America at the mercy of a white minority. At this point in time, there are very few options. Blacks can wage a battle with an intent to win at all cost, clearly stating we have no friends when those friends are the oppressors, or stand on the sidelines critizing any and everthing, and risk be– ing trampled upon. Local US Congressman Justifies Apartheid Congressman Ron Wyden (D-OR) represents the Third Congres– sional District which houses the largest concentration of Black people in Oregon. He has finally broken his long silence with respect to Afrik– an people brutally ruled and oppressed by white settlers in South Afrika. Wyden's posit~on when analyzed for content, is a direct ~nsult to Black people in Afrika, as well as -through– out the Afrikan Diaspora. He states, "Revolution will not necessarily improve the situa– tion for Black Afrikans." This sophomoric ahistorical position has no basis as fact; all revolutions have helped those people who have engaged in the effort, whether peaceful (such as the industrial and technological revolution) or forceful and accelerated (including the use of violence), as in the cases of the American, Russian, Cuban, and Angolan revolutions. Territories adjacent to South Afrika and some of the front-line states, such as Mozambique, Angola and Zimbabwe were successful in utilizing revolution to free the people. ... .., IUICit -.r ADVOCATE Vol.1, No . 4 ·-181D ?IDI" August, 1981 Tbe Portlazld ADVIX:A'lE is published IIXlllthly by tbe Black United Front. Address all illqu:iries and caanents to: P.O. Box 3976, Portland, CR 97208, or call(503) 288-0700. All material subuitted to tbe ADVCCA'rE will be CODSidered for publication and beccme property of tbe AIMX:ATE. Tbe Portland AIMX:ATE is ccmm. tted to articulating the Black experience fran a local, state, national, and international perspective. Serving as a voice of tbe BUF, The ADVCX:ATE will focus on Portland as its first source of illton~~~.tion, and will never be apologetic about its Black viewpoint - be it popular or unpopular. In our attempt to serve as a voice for tbe Black <Xmi!!Jnity, \VB 'M!lcane your caanents, suggestions, and contributions. Wyden's view of the Sullivan Principles as being a solution is a joke. The principles are · nothing more than a cruel ver– sion of affirmative action, of which the United States govern– ment has not made a reality for Black Americans who,in their mind believes they will force it on South Afrika. M.e>reover, the Sullivan Principles says nothing about· the all important political issue of "one man one vote". We witnessed the American government refusing to condemn South Afrika for invad– ing Angola. Come on Ron, be serious. When Wyden later says the situation will not be improved by "foot-dragging on apartheid" we accept this response, and would suggest that a good-faith effort could be demonstrated by Representative Wyden becom– ing a co-sponsor to legislation proposed by Rep. Bill Gray of Philadelphia. The bill, HR 3597, would prohibit any new investment is South Afrika. The bill covers bank loans and reinvestment of earning from existing operations in South Afrika and imposes a fine of up to $1 million and up to 10 years in jail for violations. Moreover, Rep. Wyden could follow the lead of the Ad Hoc Monitoring Group on Southern Afrika, and do more than pay 'lip service' to the question. Ad Hoc is a bipartisan group of Congre~spersons who are concerned about US policy in South Afrika. To date, over fifty members of Congress have agreed to lend their services to political pri– soners and other banned per– sons in South Afrika. Or he could "adopt" an Afrikan, as in the case of Congress– man George W. Crockett, Jr. of Michigan, who has taken Mr. Dumile Makanda, a Black trade union leader in Port Elizabeth, South Afrika, under his p~rsonal care. Basie's Bash Eludes Blacks No doubt the recent fund . raiser/benefit for Artquake '81 selectively eliminated Blacks from seeing, hearing, or dancing to the music of the Count Basie Band. Can you believe $50.00 per person? Did Brother Basie wonder where his folks were? After 77 years, he has to know there are Black folk in Portland. It, however, never fails. When real talent is needed, call on Blacks to whet the appetites of culturally starved people. And perhaps viewed as a compli– mentary gesture by Mayor Ivancie _ proclaiming a Count Basie Day, it should be seen as an insult to Portland's Black community. Police Vigilantes Rides · Again _ Ward and Galloway's return has given strong support to Police Vigilanteism. This infamous duo said they threw 'possums in front of Burger Barn because ~t was frequented by criminals. That warped sense of justice epitomizes the notion police have the right to decide who is guilty and how they should be punished. This totally contradicts America's professed belief in innocence until proven guilty and the right to fair trail. Testimony before the arbi– trator was filled with cases where police played judge and jury with citizens and received little if any disciplinary action. It appears from the top down the police department decided to condone this "wild west" mentality. Serious questions must be asked of Charles Jordan, since these cases were documented; what was done to eradicate the can– cer of vigilanteism? Official testimony indicates the officers were rarely disciplined; why was this practice allowed? Rewarded vigilanteism and a police union whose monthly newspaper has all the character– istics of a "Mercenary Manual", should show all citipens that "'Possum City" is in trouble.