02/01/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Lewis Merrick, member of the Minorities Commission, gave a descrip- tive review of his earlier life in St. Louis, living under an apartheid policy. He described how all blacks were forced to live in a fenced compound area patrolled by white persons. The blacks were excluded Qy law from interacting with whites, from participating in a suitable ~ human existence. He said it was important that Council realize the ,., apartheid policy was not a foreign issue, but a very personal one. He challenged the Council now has a chance to respond to the issue and cited the tragedy that the people who enforce the apartheid system in South Africa do not look any different than the City Council. However, City Council was in a position to take a stand and oppose such a system. He felt this was not an irrelevant issue, but one in which Council should be directly involved. He felt it important any action of complicity with apartheid to be repudiated by Council saying "no" to apartheid in any form, in any pl aceJ in any countr,}j at any time. Marion Barnes, 2417 Friendly Street, spoke on behalf of the Clergy and Laity Concerned. She said Council has not had adequate public information on the issue. She noted Thursday, February 2, a South African visitor would be in Eugene, and the City Council was invited to attend that meeting being held in the HCC Conference Room at 3:00 p.m. The group asked that the issue be carried over to a Monday night meeting for a public hearing, so that the public could make its concerns known. She said other cities, such as Denver, Chicago, and San Antonio, had passed such a reso- lution. Many other large cities in the nation are considering passing such a resolution. She felt it an appropriate issue for City Council to address. Mr. Bradley requested the issue be set over for a public hearing at the next Monday night meeting. Mr. Delay was concurring second. e Mr. Williams expressed being uncomfortable with the pUblic hearing sugges- tion. He doubted any of the Councilors would change their minds as a result of such a hearing. He did not feel any of the Councilors supported the behavior of the South African government or any apartheid society, but also questioned whether this was an appropriate issue for City government. Mr. Bradley said possibly the public input, could change opinions on the Council, and noted there were many people in the community who were interested in this issue. He felt the philosophical issue of this being a human rights issue was important and Council had been challenged to make a decision. Mr. Obie requested clarification on procedures, saying the public had its opportunity to give input to the Council today. It was his under- standing to hold it over would mean just Council action, and a public hearing requires a motion to that effect. Stan Long said the bylaws provide upon the request of two City Councilors an item can be continued to the next evening meeting for further discussion. Ms. Smith agreed with some of the comments of Mr. Williams, also noting her sympathy with the issue. However, she felt Council should address the real concern of whether or not international issues were issues which should be brought before Council. She requested Council discuss the allocation of its priorities and the appropriateness of the amount of time spent on certain issues. ' 2/1./78--8 e 10 ~