As many Camas families prepared to attend peaceful rallies in support of the Black Lives Matter movement last week — rallies that were, by the way, spearheaded by…
It is time to examine racist biases, hold local police accountable
A police officer with his hand casually in his pocket knelt on George Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while several colleagues watched or knelt on other parts of Mr. Floyd’s body. The officers knew people were filming, but they were confident no one would stop them. They were right, and they killed Mr. Floyd without interference from anyone, apart from the cries of horrified bystanders. After all, they had badges and guns. On that day, Minneapolis police conducted a racial terror lynching of George Floyd in broad daylight that was filmed by onlookers and then sent across America. President Trump’s reaction tells you all you need to know about his commitment to seriously address racism in America.
If one thing has become clear during this week of overwhelmingly peaceful protests decrying not only the shocking death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black father killed May 25 after Minneapolis police officers kneeled on his handcuffed body, but also decades of police brutality against black Americans, it is that the young people of this country — particularly the young people of color organizing the protests and putting their own lives on the line to speak out against horrific social injustices that have plagued this nation since its beginning — are a powerful force for good.
Government’s slow reopening is tyranny, denying basic freedoms
George Floyd was just a guy. He was a guy at the margins, allegedly writing a forged check to pay for some groceries. He was a guy who should still be alive.
We can’t pretend it’s been easy to find cause for “cheers” in this month’s “Cheers & Jeers” column, especially knowing that our country hit yet another grim milestone — 100,000 Americans now dead from COVID-19 — this week.
Typically, in large cities and small communities across America, humane societies provide a “safety net” for animals … providing food, shelter and veterinary care to lost animals, and…
Growing up, my family owned a small business — John’s Fresh Produce. When I was in seventh grade and my father became ill, I dropped out of school to help my mom open the store. When he got better, I returned to school, and our family worked hard to keep the store running. That produce stand was our livelihood and our connection to the community. It’s where I learned the value of hard work and the joys and difficulties of operating a small business.
We can understand why people are getting restless. After all, it’s nearly June and the lockdowns meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 have lasted far…
