The Oregonian downplays Christmas violence

email message to Letters@news.oregonian.com (12/23/97) *UNPUBLISHED*

According to the editorial, "Season's beatings,"(12/19/97) The Oregonian is satisfied that,"Law-enforcement officials seem to be doing all that is needed..." regarding the assault on members of the Underwood family by local high school students. Evidence is being gathered in preparation for presentation to a grand jury. One victim is in critical condition with possible brain damage from a blow to the head by a baseball bat.

To the contrary, if these 12 to 20 young hoodlums were hispanic or African-American, and instead of coming from Hillsboro High were dropouts or from,less-affluent Jefferson High, they would have been rounded up the very day of the attack and arrested and charged with attempted murder and felonious assault under Measure 11. There would be no need for a grand jury indictment. The police and prosecutors would have rushed to charge that this was gang violence.

After all, what more does it take to constitute a gang besides a conspiracy to commit illegal and violent acts.

________The Knight's Apprentice, esq., 12/23/97