In remembrance

On Sunday, public gatherings were held at six Portland locations where citizens died during or shortly after encounters with the Portland police over the last 14 years. A small memorial was left at each site as well as palm branches in observance of the Christian holiday Palm Sunday, which was held the same day.
  
 All those remembered were unarmed when they were killed, according to Reverend Renee Ward, associate pastor of Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church and co-founder of Everyday People, the group that organized the vigil.

    The event came days after another fatal shooting of a civilian by Portland police. The incident involved Jack Dale Collins, a homeless man, who was shot to death on March 22 by a Portland police officer in the Hoyt Arboretum. Collins came at an officer with a blade. He was not among those remembered at the event.
 
  Those remembered include:
    -Aaron Campbell was shot in the back Jan. 29 after a confrontation at 12800 N.E. Sandy Blvd. This incident prompted protests and marches, one of which took place on the Park Blocks at PSU on Feb. 19.
    -James P. Chasse Jr., a 42-year-old man with schizophrenia, died in police custody in September 2006.        

    The Student Veterans Association and the Citizens Review Committee held a forum on March 14 at PSU to hear concerns about police accountability, particularly in the Chasse case.
    -James Jahar Perez was shot to death by police in March 2004 at the 7200 block of North Fessenden.
    -Kendra James was killed by police in May 2003 at N. Skidmore and Michigan Ave.
    -Richard “Dickie” Dow, a paranoid schizophrenic, died in police custody in October 1998 at N. Lombard and Fenwick.
    -Deontae Keller was fatally shot in February 1996 at N. Interstate and Shaver St.

    “We know there are some good cops but there are some bad cops too. Let’s cut out the cancer,” Ward said.

    On the corner of Northwest Thirteenth and Everett Streets, people stood holding signs calling for justice for Chasse, who may have urinated in the street in the Pearl District before police tried to stop him, according to Oregonlive.com.

He was chased and wrestled to the ground by police. He died in their custody on the way to the hospital. An autopsy found he died of blunt force trauma to the chest, and he suffered 26 breaks to 16 ribs and a punctured lung, according to Oregonlive.com.

    The group sang, prayed and cried out, “We remember you.”
  
 Everyday People wants to bring peace and comfort to family members and to let them know that their loved ones are not forgotten, Ward said. He reminded the crowd that they could be home eating dinner with their families on Palm Sunday but instead they are out in the cold, and thanked them for their commitment to life.
 
   Derry Jackson, co-founder of Everyday People, said he wants to bring these deaths into the consciousness of the community.
   
   “I hope this spark will set a flame of fire that will bring about change to save a life,” Jackson said.
   
   Felix Bordaux, 29, was on the scene with his camera and said he is making a movie about the Portland police shootings that he will title, “The Aaron Campbell Story,” though the film will include other police-related deaths.
   
  “I want to hold the police accountable,” Bordaux said.

Everyday people
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For more information contact Jackson at:
(503) 962-9607