Police Shootings On Agenda Of Oregon Black Political Convention
Later this week, people will gather at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Portland for the Oregon Black Political Convention. Conference organizer Calvin Henry says the event is non-partisan and open to anyone. He’s expecting a number of elected officials. The conference is organized by the Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs, and sponsored by the Albina Ministerial Alliance and the African American Chamber of Commerce.Henry said that he thinks black Oregonians don’t always feel welcome in the political process. He said this conference provides a good opportunity for everyone to communicate. “We don’t care what color the elected officials are. But the point of it, those elected officials should be there to represent the interests of black individuals too. A lot of elected officials feel they don’t have to," he said.At the end of the convention Sunday, delegates will endorse candidates for a range of offices. Delegates to the convention will also develop resolutions on issues ranging from education policy to legal representation. Relations between Portland Police and the Black Community will be a major focus of discussion. A draft platform on that issue urges the Portland City Council to require police officers to file a report within 24 hours whenever deadly force is used.
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