A group of local civil rights organizations, including the Urban League and the Albina Ministerial Alliance, will be holding a forum for city and county candidates on Tuesday, May 4.

The forum, which will feature 17 candidates including several incumbents, will focus on economic disparities facing communities of color in the area. Candidates will be asked for specific policies that will address the longstanding inequality endured by minority populations.

It begins at 5 p.m. at Emmanuel Temple Church, 1033 North Sumner Street.

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon will host its first “Clergy Wellness and Health Equity Breakfast” at Maranatha Church at 4222 N.E. 12th Ave. on Thursday, May 20, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

The free event will provide inspiration and practical resources for faith leaders interested in health ministry, health equity issues and a faith-based approach to chronic disease prevention.

The Rev. Dr. T. Allen Bethel, senior pastor at Maranatha Church and president of the Albina Ministerial Alliance, will provide opening words for the gathering, followed by a speaker from the Multnomah County Health Department who will talk about health disparities, how environments impact our health, and effective ways to make healthy changes in the congregational setting.

EMO staff and other community partners will share faith-based resources to sustain healthy choices among churches, such as implementing nutrition guidelines for congregational meetings and fellowship time, displaying nutrition information next to food options, making physical activity a regular part of religious education or social time, creating raised-bed gardens on church properties, and installing bike racks.

There is no charge for the clergy breakfast, however pre-registration is requested by sending an RSVP to ksharinghousen@emoregon.org or calling 503-221-1054.

Victoria Burton went to work for the Portland Police Bureau in 1981 with the goal of serving as a role model.

On Wednesday, Burton is retiring after 29 years of dedicated service and the community is thanking her for the positive influence she has made. The public is invited to her retirement reception on Friday, April 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Emmanuel Temple, 1033 North Sumner Street.

Burton began her career by getting assigned to the North Precinct where she could work the Albina community, which at that time had the largest population of African Americans in Portland.

She hoped to serve as a role model for future generations, letting them know that becoming a police officer was not only possible, but a good choice, while also validating the the struggles of the elders to say their struggles were not in vain.

Her work over the years included the Drug and Vice Division where she served as an officer assigned to narcotics. She was later assigned to the Portland Airport Inter-Agency Narcotic Team; the bureau’s Personnel Division, where she served as a minority recruiter; and the Juvenile Service Division where she worked with runaway prostitutes and pimps.

Little did she know that her various assignments were preparing her to do something that would have a life changing impact not only on her life, but the community at large and would change the way the bureau provided services to victims of traumatic incidents in particular Portland’s diverse communities.

Because of the drug and gang violence that was plaguing the African American community, Officer Burton envisioned a community where ministers, civic and community leaders as well as ordinary citizens of inner north and northeast Portland would come together on a formal basis to address the effects of violence and assist the family and community following a shooting or homicide.

As part of this community policing philosophy, former Portland Police Chief Moose gave his approval and allowed Burton to take her idea and develop it into a program for the bureau known as the Crisis Response Team.

As Chief Moose wrote in his book, “Officer Victoria Wade had been pushing this idea for a number of years. As chief, I was able to listen to her and then help make her dream a reality.”

In 1993, Officer Burton was transferred to the North Precinct Neighborhood Response Team and later to the Northeast Response Team, where not only did she begin the journey of developing the program, but she was also the liaison officer at Iris Court and for the Northeast Aging Services. Later while managing the CRT she was also assigned to the black gang detail.

Officer Burton has received numerous awards over the years, including being named a Woman of Achievement by the Oregon Commission for Women; a Frontline Soldier by the Albina Ministerial Alliance; and earning a Portland Police Bureau Commendation Medal.

During her tenure with the crises team, she trained volunteers and responded to over 450 call-outs ranging from homicides, murder-suicides, aggravated shootings, various types of accidental deaths, officer-involved deaths and community demonstrations and unrest.

Burton said she saw her work as a calling. Although she is retiring her heart is still with the families she served and volunteers who held her up and served the community as well. She said her career has been fulfilling and encourages other women and people of color not just to consider but to choose law enforcement as a career.

Burton hopes that many of the families she and the responders she has worked with over the years will come to her retirement reception so she can personally thank them for their courage and the inspiration they have had on her life.

Victoria Burton went to work for the Portland Police Bureau in 1981 with the goal of serving as a role model.

Today, Burton is retiring after 29 years of dedicated service and the community is thanking her for the positive influence she has made. The public is invited to her retirement reception on Friday, April 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Emmanuel Temple, 1033 North Sumner Street.

Burton began her career by getting assigned to the North Precinct where she could work the Albina community, which at that time had the largest population of African Americans in Portland.

She hoped to serve as a role model for future generations, letting them know that becoming a police officer was not only possible, but a good choice, while also validating the the struggles of the elders to say their struggles were not in vain.

Her work over the years included the Drug and Vice Division where she served as an officer assigned to narcotics. She was later assigned to the Portland Airport Inter-Agency Narcotic Team; the bureau’s Personnel Division, where she served as a minority recruiter; and the Juvenile Service Division where she worked with runaway prostitutes and pimps.

Little did she know that her various assignments were preparing her to do something that would have a life changing impact not only on her life, but the community at large and would change the way the bureau provided services to victims of traumatic incidents in particular Portland’s diverse communities.

Because of the drug and gang violence that was plaguing the African American community, Officer Burton envisioned a community where ministers, civic and community leaders as well as ordinary citizens of inner north and northeast Portland would come together on a formal basis to address the effects of violence and assist the family and community following a shooting or homicide.

As part of this community policing philosophy, former Portland Police Chief Moose gave his approval and allowed Burton to take her idea and develop it into a program for the bureau known as the Crisis Response Team.

As Chief Moose wrote in his book, “Officer Victoria Wade had been pushing this idea for a number of years. As chief, I was able to listen to her and then help make her dream a reality.”

In 1993, Officer Burton was transferred to the North Precinct Neighborhood Response Team and later to the Northeast Response Team, where not only did she begin the journey of developing the program, but she was also the liaison officer at Iris Court and for the Northeast Aging Services. Later while managing the CRT she was also assigned to the black gang detail.

Officer Burton has received numerous awards over the years, including being named a Woman of Achievement by the Oregon Commission for Women; a Frontline Soldier by the Albina Ministerial Alliance; and earning a Portland Police Bureau Commendation Medal.

During her tenure with the crises team, she trained volunteers and responded to over 450 call-outs ranging from homicides, murder-suicides, aggravated shootings, various types of accidental deaths, officer-involved deaths and community demonstrations and unrest.

Burton said she saw her work as a calling. Although she is retiring her heart is still with the families she served and volunteers who held her up and served the community as well. She said her career has been fulfilling and encourages other women and people of color not just to consider but to choose law enforcement as a career.

Burton hopes that many of the families she and the responders she has worked with over the years will come to her retirement reception so she can personally thank them for their courage and the inspiration they have had on her life.

Police Commissioner Dan Saltzman, center, addresses reporters. Left is Lolenzo Poe, who co-chairs the African American Alliance with Joyce Harris, right.

Jake Thomas
jthomas@portlandobserver.com

This morning Mayor Sam Adams and Police Commissioner Dan Saltzman appeared at the North Portland Police Precinct with local African American leaders to announce that they were calling for a federal investigation into the police shooting of Aaron Campbell.

Saltzman reiterated his confidence in both the Police Bureau and Chief Rosie Sizer.

“But I also believe that this process must occur,” added Saltzman, who said that asking the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to investigate is crucial in brining healing to a city that has been rattled by the killing. Although, he noted that he doesn’t expect the investigation to find any wrong doing.

Saltzman also said that the Police Bureau is not waiting for the feds and is doing a “top-to-bottom” review of how it handles people having mental health episodes, the use of AR-15 rifles (the weapon that killed Campbell), and how it handles down subjects.

Rev. Allen T. Behtel, the president of the Albina Ministerial Alliance, applauded the move by Saltzman and Adams.

“We’re not going back, we’re going forward so everyone can have justice,” he said.

Joyce Harris, the co-chair of the African American Alliance, said that a federal investigation was needed because it would be independent from local law enforcement agencies, which would make for a more penetrating and critical inquiry into the incident.

She added that investigators would look at the “broader picture,” taking into account past police killings.

Adams repeatedly stated that not all Portlanders have access to the city’s quality of life, referring to the sobering racial disparities seen in the city, which he hoped to address with broader policy initiatives on the city level.

“The simple passage of time will not heal all wounds in this matter,” he said.

He also echoed Saltzman’s remarks that having the investigation will help restore citizen’s, particularly African Americans, faith in the police.

“We can deal with this; we can make progress,” said Adams.

During questions, Harris was asked if the Scott Westerman, president of the police union, was present at a local breakfast sponsored by the African American Alliance. The union has been a stalwart supporter of its officers facing scrutiny for use of force.

“We agreed to disagree on that,” replied Harris, of their diverging views.

Rev. Jesse Jackson addresses reporters before a rally at Maranatha Church.

Jake Thomas
jthomas@portlandobserver.com

Rev. Jesse Jackson, a national civil rights leader, made his way to Portland earlier today at the invitation of Albina Ministerial Alliance to call attention to the shooting of Aaron Campbell, a black male who was killed by police late last month.

On Tuesday afternoon, Jackson, who was in Eugene on a planned visit to the University of Oregon, met with Mayor Sam Adams and Police Commissioner Dan Saltzman to discuss the incident that has spurred calls for more accountability of the Police Bureau.

“It was a good meeting,” said Jackson, speaking to reporters in Maranatha Church in northeast Portland, who described it as non-confrontational, but didn’t go into specifics.

He condemned the incident forcefully, saying it was “beneath the dignity of man” for Campbell to lay bleeding to death on the concrete after being shot.

Jackson also had harsh words for the process that left Ronald Frashour, the officer who shot Campbell with an AR-15 rifle, free to return to work on Wednesday.

He said that it was an insult for the officer to return to work when the community was still reeling from the incident, and said that he should be suspended.

“There can be no justice until you take the glass out of the wound,” he said.

Jackson said that the grand jury that chose not to indict Frashour was all white. He also asserted that key witnesses were not called to the stand.

“We fight terrorists around the world. We at least want to be protected from terrorism at home,” he said.

Holding a copy of the Urban League’s “State of Black Oregon” report, which found blacks at the bottom of nearly every social indicator, Jackson called for the city to act to address inequity and create more equitable opportunity for all citizens.

He also mentioned that the police had killed four other people in the last seven years, which he found to be a sign that the Police Bureau was in deep need of systematic reform, and was an issue of national concern.

Jackson echoed calls made by local leaders for the U.S. Justice Department to get involved in the case, and for a special prosecutor to be assigned.

“You’d do that to protect the system’s integrity,” he said.

Before speaking to over 1,000 people in the church, former state Senator Avel Gordly, who is leading a second effort to recall Adams, again blasted the leadership at City Hall before Jackson took the state.

He called for a stop to violence and for citizens to apply more pressure to the city if Frashour returns to work.

Reverend T. Allen Bethel of the Albina Ministerial Alliance speaking on the steps of the Justice Center this morning. Photo by Jake Thomas.

Jake Thomas
jthomas@portlandobserver.com

About 100 people gathered today on the steps of the Justice Center downtown in response to the Jan. 29 shooting of Aaron Campbell, a reportedly suicidal African American who was shot by the police in a northeast Portland apartment complex.

Speakers included local pastors, former state legislators, and other activists who called for accountability within the Police Bureau. Some invoked other high profile incidents where people had died at the hands of the police, and had a clear message to City Hall and the Oregon Legislature: Police are killing people with impunity and you will lose our support unless you address our concerns.

This week a grand jury cleared Officer Ronald Frashour who shot Campbell with an AR-15 after a tense standoff with the police. Since then, there has been a growing chorus of calls for the judge to release the transcript of the proceedings, which has been joined by Police Commissioner Dan Saltzman.

Reverend Doctor Leroy Haynes read a statement signed by 32 ministers that called for the grand jury to release the transcript of its proceedings and for the state legislature to revisit its use of deadly force laws.

“We are not doing an effective job of training Portland police officers to understand how to cope with mental health crisis,” said Jo Ann Bowman, the executive director of the civil rights group Oregon Action and former member of a city-sponsored task force on racial profiling.

Bowman brought up an incident earlier this month were Portland youth were allegedly manhandled by the police after being stopped for no apparent reason and called on Mayor Sam Adams to involve himself, pointing out that Police Chief Rosie Sizer answers to him.

“I want to make sure that we take a magnify glass to the training that we provide to Portland police officers because it is clear to me that we hear over and over and over again that they have followed their training,” said Bowman.

Rev. T Allen Bethel of the Albina Ministerial Alliance said that he was tired of hearing police violence justified because officers had followed protocol.

“They continue to be the only force that I know that has never done anything wrong,” said Bethel.

He the pointed his sights on City Hall, calling on them to do more for police accountability.

“If you do not want to help us we know how to help you pack your bags and find something else to do,” he said.

Former state Senator Avel Gorldy points toward City Hall, which she faulted this morning for not doing enough for police accountability.

Former state Senator Avel Gordly invoked the words of Martin Luther King Jr. that a threat to justice anywhere was a threat to justice everywhere.

She called the words of the police union “unacceptable.” Gordly, who is heading a recall effort of the mayor, said that we need new leadership at City Hall, adding, “we’re going to get it.”

Pastor Mark Knustson stands outside of Augustana Lutheran Church, which he heads, in northeast Portland. Photo by Mark Washington.

Jake Thomas
jthomas@portlandobserver.com

Mark Knutson, the pastor at Augustana Lutheran Church in northeast Portland, has learned many lessons from Martin Luther King Jr., whose books line his shelves in northeast Portland office.

But one of the most important may be the notion that change can happen when you fling open your doors.

For the last 14 years, Knutson has worked tirelessly at Augustana Lutheran Church to form coalitions of people and organizations seeking social justice and equity by opening the doors to the church and keeping a hand extended to people who might not agree with him.

During this time as senior pastor, he’s opened up office space in the church basement to local non-profits, traveled to Eastern Oregon to speak out for immigrant rights, gone to Salem whenever the Legislature is in session lobbying for more funding for education and anti-poverty programs, and has been a regular in marches against police brutality.

“The question I have to ask is, where is, where is Mark not involved in the community?” said David Leslie, the executive director of the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, which recently gave Knutson the “Ecumenist of the Year” award for his broad range of activities.

Leslie said that Knutson brings a high level of empathy to his work, and stands out as someone who remains forward-looking and optimistic, even when things are bleak.

“Mark’s not afraid to be on the frontline, and he’s pulling you along,” said Leslie.
Rev. Allen Bethel of the Albina Ministerial Alliance said that he’s been able to count on Knutson’s support whenever the alliance has taken on issues of police accountability or human services.

“What really stands out is Mark’s presence,” said Bethel.

In his office at Augustana Lutheran, Knutson explained that from reading King’s works he understands that intentional action needs to be taken to initiate social change, which requires coalitions.

“One person, one church can’t do it; one politician, one business person can’t do it,” he said.

He also stressed that it’s important to reach out to people who may be on the opposite side of an issue. Knutson has been know to travel to remote places of Oregon to help facilitate dialogue on issues ranging from the plight of immigrants to water rights battles, often with people almost at each others’ throats.

“He [King] had a way of really addressing the issues in this country that were so wrong, and at the same time still loving the people who were instigating it, which is incredible if you think about it,” said Knutson.

When Knutson came to Augustana Lutheran in the 1990s, the national church had recently issued an apology to its gay and lesbian members.

But Knutson wanted it to go further, and grant greater rights to gays and lesbians. He began facilitating dialogue with church members and got 80-year-old members to see his point of view.

In order to foster better collaboration with other organizations, he rents out office space in the basement of the church to seven non-profits, most of which are focused on the rights of immigrants and low-income people.

“It’s been enormously important for us because we’re a very small organization with very little funding, and just to have a space to designate for Oregon Farm Worker Ministries is really important,” said John Munson of the help Knudson has done for his non-profit.

Ari Rapkin, a co-director with the Community Alliance of Tenants, said that having space next door to other like-minded non-profits has been a good way to swap ideas.

Knutson, 57, was born in Portland and attended Franklin High School and the University of Oregon. After graduating he did a stint training people for jobs in Astoria before heading to seminary school.

After finishing seminary, he worked as the director for youth ministries for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Knutson said that part of the job required frequent travel, which gave him the opportunity to see how other churches operate, which would benefit him when he returned to Portland.

Since taking the reigns at Augustana Lutheran Church in 1995, he’s watched the congregation swell to over 700 people, many of them young, which is a difficult feat as churches have seen their membership decline over the years.

Knutson said that part of the reason he has been able to grow the church is through an inclusive approach that involves “flinging the doors open,” as he proudly displays a picture of his diverse congregation.

He added he also tries to make connections between the scripture and modern life, so that when his congregants leave Sunday service they will go out and try to positively impact their community.

“When we give of ourselves- when we watch people give of themselves- that’s just amazing what that can do,” he said.