Recognition: Better late than never?

Richmond honors Tent City leaders

By John Geluardi
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Mayor Gayle McLaughlin honored a group of community members this week for their grass-roots efforts to reduce violence in some of Richmond's most troubled neighborhoods.

At Tuesday's council meeting, McLaughlin and Councilman Nat Bates presented 17 Tent City organizers with the Martin Luther King Richmond Community Leadership Award.

"I felt this was such an incredible initiative, and it meant something that these community members were willing to risk their lives and safety and put in their time and energy into making a statement that we need peace, and we need to stop the violence," McLaughlin said. "The leaders of this effort needed to be recognized."

On Sept. 25, several community members, frustrated by a surge in shootings, decided to take a stand. They pitched a tent in a parking lot near Fourth Street and Macdonald Avenue, a part of town long tyrannized by crime, violence and heartbreak.

Word of the effort quickly spread, and the first tent was barely up before people began arriving with contributions of food, blankets and good will. The frail urban outpost touched a deep chord, and the lone tent became an expression of a battered community's weariness and hope.

Within a few days, more tents were pitched, and then another Tent City went up in North Richmond's Shields-Reid Park. Then two more popped up, one in Martin Luther King Memorial Park and another in John F. Kennedy Park. In all, the Tent City protest lasted 37 days, with many community members camping out the entire time.

Organizers said the Tent Cities had communitywide impact that resulted in fewer gang-related street killings. While the Tent Cities were standing, there were seven homicides in Richmond, but only two were rivalry-based street killings. In the 10 days before the first tent was pitched, there had been six such killings.

The Tent Cities caught the attention of the media, and they were visited by a steady line of elected officials including U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez. Kaiser hospital provided hot meals twice a week, and Wal-Mart supplied tents and cooking equipment. Local small business CJ's Barbecue & Fish supported the effort from the first day with food and equipment.

"We realized if things were going to get better, it was going to be up to us," said the Rev. Charles Newsome, who pitched the first tent near the spot where one of his cousins had been gunned down. "The community asked the youngsters to put the guns down and come together and talk. It's time for us to come together in this city."

Since the Tent Cities came down Nov. 1, organizers have worked to keep the Tent City spirit alive. Many have been regulars at City Council meetings and have organized to advocate for better street lighting and youth programs. Last week, they advocated unsuccessfully for Cortland "Corky" Boozè, a Tent City organizer, to be appointed to the City Council.

"Moving forward, we want the momentum of Tent City to carry forward," said the Rev. Andre Shumake. "It is important the city continues to support Tent City's grass-roots community activism."

Reach John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or jgeluardi@cctimes.com.

tent city honorees

Recipients of the Martin Luther King Richmond Community Leadership and Service Award

The Rev. Charles Newsome

The Rev. Andre Shumake

Freddie Jackson

Cortland "Corky" Boozè

Robert Brown

Albert Lee

Wilma Miller

Jackie Thompson

Garland Harper

Stephan Cowans

John Wayne

Artesia Johnson

James Cash

Donald Seals

Felicia Haywood

Norman Walker

Patrice Boykin

For more information about Tent City, contact the Richmond Improvement Association at 510-860-3681.