March 31, 2004
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My City
I don’t know if you would have heard this news in other cities, but we sure did in Portland. There are so many things I love about Portland – it’s a city ahead of its time in so many areas of social change – but this is not one of them. Once again, a member of our police department has killed an unarmed person – in this case, a young black man. I think if we were in the middle of a very hot summer, the African-American community in Portland might have broken into all-out riot. As it is, I believe we are just inches away. The last time an unarmed young woman who happened to be black was killed by police here there was a shake-up in the department, making a long-time veteran of the force (who happens to be African-American) the new police chief. Apparently, this wasn’t enough of a change. Looks like the FBI is being called in, and once again, I say bring out the klieg lights and let’s see what shakes out.
The Headline: The fatal shooting of James Jahar Perez, 28, (pictured upper right) this past weekend at the hands of a Portland police officer is prompting the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conduct a civil rights probe and the Multnomah Co. District Attorney to schedule a public inquest and a grand jury investigation.
Deep Thought: One day Dad asked me to go fishing with him. I got scared. I had the feeling he was going to try to drown me. I don’t know why I thought that, because so far he had never tried to kill me. But he had never taken me fishing either, so I was suspicious. When we got to the lake, he walked right up to it. “Hey, son, come here,” he said. “Look at these minnows.” “Nice try, Dad – if that’s your real name!” I yelled. Then I ran back to the car and locked myself in. Dad never took me fishing again. So I think that proves my case.
Today I am grateful for: Fingernail clippers
Comments (9)
I haven’t been turning on the television so did not hear about this, but how sad it is to learn of it now. My prayer is that the truth come out. Infinite Blessings
how sad… i have some family that lives in Gresham so i have heard a little bit about this… i always wonder in these cases if race is really a factor, or if that’s just what they turn it into.
Oh you better believe race is a factor.
All the shootings are getting a little out of hand over there. I think the cops knew him, at least that’s what the news seemed to imply. Sounds like the FBI will oversee the case now. Will be interesting to see how it turns out…
There was a case like that here in Cleveland last year. I always wonder what the circumstances are surrounding them; what makes the police think they are in such danger from an unarmed person. It seems that all too often it’s shoot first, ask questions later. Scary.
Oh, almost forgot: thanks for subscribing. It means a lot.
That’s terrible.
I hope this time it DOES make a difference in the way things are done.
It is important that we all get the picture that senseless killing is just that….senseless. What a pity for all….
Hello. I love your writings–especially this one. We have the same things happening in my city too, and I’m from Canada.
neith483