A stellar group of Black community leaders has announced a press conference for tomorrow morning protesting the Portland School Board's proposal to close Jefferson High School.
"The school board votes on Monday on the option to close Jefferson. That's it," said Lisa Manning of the center for Self Enhancement.
"So we have to come out strong, we've got to make it clear to them right now that the proposed plan to close Jefferson as they have signaled is not only not acceptable -- it is not an option.
"The community is announcing that it is not acceptable, it is not an option, and that we are prepared to employ all means and remedies available to us, politically, civicly, and legally," she told The Skanner News.
Manning said the group plans a sit-in Wednesday night at the School District central office at 501 North Dixon.
"This is to let them know that this is very serious, the community is galvanized, and it is not something that we will accept, period," she said.
The press conference, by the Thomas Jefferson statue, is Wednesday morning at 9:45 a.m.
Speakers include National Head Start President Ron Herndon; retired State Sen. Avel Gordly; African American Chamber of Commerce Chair Roy Jay; Albina Ministerial Alliance co-Chair Rev. T Allen Bethel; and African American Alliance co-Chair Joyce Harris.
Also attending will be State Rep. Lew Frederick; James Posey of the Coalition of Black Men; Harold Williams of CH2A; Urban League President Marcus Munday; and Self Enhancement Inc. President and founder Tony Hopson.