I tried to add explanatory text to the post ittself, but it ruined the effect, despite the lack of such text probably causing some confusion for some.
In the above picture, the crowd at today's rally in the aftermath of the shooting of James Jahar Perez is pointing to the Justice Center, home of the Portland Police Bureau.
In the below picture (in case there's anyone who has never seen it) they are pointing in the direction from which they believe they have heard the shots fired which have just killed Martin Luther King, Jr.
For thinking people in Portland, no explanation is needed.
aero on 04 Apr 2004
True Jack B, but I have come to enjoy the words found on this site. I was interested in the story, although your point is well taken. A bit of thought is all that is necessary to understand these images. Thanks for the post b!X... goodnight Portland.
Well, anyway, I do also have a report coming from the rally. I'm working through my 12 pages of notes, and that's not even the entire rally because eventually I needed to just stand and listen, rather than write notes. Part of why that was hopefully will make it into my write-up anyway, if I can do it any kind of justice.
Rosie G. on 05 Apr 2004
The rally was a good catharsis for a lot of the anger that had been building up this past week. I believe the organizers did a wonderful job at informing the crowd then challenging them to go out and do something with that anger, yet all without inciting them to violence. My biggest gripe would have to be with how the media (mis)represented the rally, as usual, in both the late night news and todays top story. Again, the only clips of the speakers they showed were the few moments where they were yelling, thereby taking their speech totally out of context for the viewers. Then of course in the impromptu "man on the street" interviews they only showed a couple of white people (at least KGW did); is it because the white reporters did not feel comfortable in that crowd of 95% minorities? Thank you Bix, I can hardly wait for you to give a more balanced portrayal of the rally and the upcoming inquest and hearings because the totally inept local media certainly can't.
a reader on 05 Apr 2004
I am not sure why you counterpose these two images?
Are you implying that Perez was an intentional assassination? Do you really think a traffic stop no matter how sadly and tragically gone wrong is really comparable to the assassination of one of our nation's greatest civil rights leaders?
It seems to me that these events are on the same continuum of majorities doing violence to minorities and people of peace responding to such with similar outrage.
And as it turns out, something I missed about this moment as I rushed to get my camera into position and missed some of what was said, is mentioned in today's paper:
The senator asked the crowd to point their fingers at the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. that are inscribed on the wall of the Justice Center across the street from the park. Pointing her own index finger, she recited the words: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
So actually there's an even more direct connection between the two than the simple fact of the date.
Comments (9)
aero on 04 Apr 2004
Wish there was some text to accompany these dramatic images... I am sure they are forthcoming... :D
The One True b!X on 04 Apr 2004
I tried to add explanatory text to the post ittself, but it ruined the effect, despite the lack of such text probably causing some confusion for some.
In the above picture, the crowd at today's rally in the aftermath of the shooting of James Jahar Perez is pointing to the Justice Center, home of the Portland Police Bureau.
In the below picture (in case there's anyone who has never seen it) they are pointing in the direction from which they believe they have heard the shots fired which have just killed Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jack Bog on 04 Apr 2004
For thinking people in Portland, no explanation is needed.
aero on 04 Apr 2004
True Jack B, but I have come to enjoy the words found on this site. I was interested in the story, although your point is well taken. A bit of thought is all that is necessary to understand these images. Thanks for the post b!X... goodnight Portland.
The One True b!X on 04 Apr 2004
Well, anyway, I do also have a report coming from the rally. I'm working through my 12 pages of notes, and that's not even the entire rally because eventually I needed to just stand and listen, rather than write notes. Part of why that was hopefully will make it into my write-up anyway, if I can do it any kind of justice.
Rosie G. on 05 Apr 2004
The rally was a good catharsis for a lot of the anger that had been building up this past week. I believe the organizers did a wonderful job at informing the crowd then challenging them to go out and do something with that anger, yet all without inciting them to violence. My biggest gripe would have to be with how the media (mis)represented the rally, as usual, in both the late night news and todays top story. Again, the only clips of the speakers they showed were the few moments where they were yelling, thereby taking their speech totally out of context for the viewers. Then of course in the impromptu "man on the street" interviews they only showed a couple of white people (at least KGW did); is it because the white reporters did not feel comfortable in that crowd of 95% minorities? Thank you Bix, I can hardly wait for you to give a more balanced portrayal of the rally and the upcoming inquest and hearings because the totally inept local media certainly can't.
a reader on 05 Apr 2004
I am not sure why you counterpose these two images?
Are you implying that Perez was an intentional assassination? Do you really think a traffic stop no matter how sadly and tragically gone wrong is really comparable to the assassination of one of our nation's greatest civil rights leaders?
Elaine of Kalilily on 05 Apr 2004
It seems to me that these events are on the same continuum of majorities doing violence to minorities and people of peace responding to such with similar outrage.
The One True b!X on 05 Apr 2004
And as it turns out, something I missed about this moment as I rushed to get my camera into position and missed some of what was said, is mentioned in today's paper:
So actually there's an even more direct connection between the two than the simple fact of the date.