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Banging for Change by SF City Hall of Shame, February 25

by mesha Monge-Irizarry (iolmisha [at] cs.com)
Recount of "Bang4Change 2006!", Human & Civil Rights Revival Festival at Civic Center Plaza, SF, Sat. 2-25-06
Banging for Change by SF City Hall of Shame, February 25
(mesha Monge-Irizarry, Idriss Stelley Foundation)

The Civil Center Plaza, by SF City Hall, noon time on Saturday warmed up to the sound of "Bang4Change", sung by MC PamPam, the Imposing Figure, director of SF Peacemaker.
The event was sponsored by the Idriss Stelley Foundation, ANSWER, Community First Coalition and a host of SF community leaders, in response to our community growing interest in reviving the Human and Civil rights movement.

Among speakers, per order of appearance were:

Valerie Tullier, Senator Carol Migden's assistant,
District 10 Youth Commission Speaker Cassandra James
Answer Youth organizer Rachael Hereford
Bayview Youth Gladys Gimadi (SF Youth Empowerment Funding Advisory Board)
Youth Speak Poet Meilani Clay,
Vanessa Jackson House of Imani,
Ebony Colbert, SF Bayview reporter
Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. Prisoners of Conscience Committee
Rudy Corpuz and his possee from United Playaz
Ace Washington, Fillmore activist
Pierre Labossiere, Haiti Action Committee
Duclos Benissoit--Haitian Pres. of Fed. of Public transportation
Sgt. Delacy Davis, Black Cops Against Police brutality
Families of Victims of Police Brutality: Marylon Boyd, Elvira Pollard, Julio & Mirna Ayala, mesha Monge-Irizarry, Carnem Saldivar, Frank Rosenberg, Kevin Williams,
Berkeley Copwatch Gerald Smith
SF Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi
Renee Saucedo, La Raza Centro Legal,
Merle WOO, National Radical Women
Transgender Activist Sister Jazzie Collins
Claudia from SF ANSWER, announcing March 18 Stop the war event in San Francisco

Music and entertainment was provided by:

PamPam
Ace in your Face (Ace Washington)
Colored Ink ,
Michael Franti
Ajamu Akinyele w/ Gemini Soul,
Amha Baraka &JahKuumba
Black Steven
Gutta Mob
BlackSteven
Kev Kelly
Bernadette_Ja'Net

According to Maurice Campbell, Director of Community First Coalition and ANSWER Member:
"This event was about YOU and was conceived by mesha Monge-Irizarry, who lost her son Idriss Stelley to police violence. It was supported by other mothers such as Elvira Pollard who lost her son Gus Rugley, and Marilyn Boyd who lost her son Cammerin Boyd to SFPD. It is about Civil Rights and Human Rights, for YOU ! These mothers don't want another mother to go through what they went through, more importantly they want you, our Youth, safe, alive and free from violence. You are our future, we want you to celebrate life and accomplishments, not suffer death and mourning. "An eye for an eye" is not acceptable! It is imperative that you take the steps to encourage others to remain in peace and respect of each other. We understand that you are coming up in difficult times, we will do our part to open doors to ease your struggle but you must stand with us and use us as your resource, we want you to live a full life, free of violence. Your ARE not only our future, but also our legacy! Look at the organizations who support your cause, please understand we are in this together! Your Civil Rights and Human Rights are our top concern !"

Maurice's prayers were answered... Prominent SF Youth rappers who originally grew very tense back stage about time constraints and order of appearance ended up performing TOGETHER, closing the event in a powerful living demonstration of unity, defeating the hype around Bayview and Western Addition "Thugs" killing each other, while many Bang4Changers shedding tears of hope and gratefulness, watch them rapping side by side for the first time in the history of San Francisco.

It was equally awesome to see that the majority of our crowd consisted of many Poor, Youth, Black and Brown folks, in addition to the flock of white liberals so predictable at such events ! The People are ready for the revival of the Human and Civil Rights movement !

Idriss Stelley Foundation is now refocusing its energy on its clients, victims of Police brutality - turning into survivors and thrivers -, on the video production of "4REAL Bayview: DA Plantation Saga" on environmental racism and police brutality, the launching of "SF Village Voice" TV and Radio Station onsite at ISF on 3rd and Palou in March 2006, and the Cookout in celebration of the Release of Brother Brian Spears from County Jail last week, as well as the Campaign to End the Death Penalty though the indefinite postponement of Michael Morales State murder in San Quentin, that will take place in the Backyard of the SF Bayview Newspaper at 4921 3rd Street on the last Sunday in Match at 4 pm.

Some ambitious soul, or a progressive organization might take Bang4Change on the road to other cities across the nation? Idriss Stelley Foundation will continue bringing Bang4Change to San Francisco on AfriKan American Month every year, growing the voice and power of the People !

A special thanks to the awesome ANSWER crew, Ebony Colbert, Maurice Campbell, Ernestine Florent who coordinated all city permits, Reverend Sandra Decker, who headed tabling, Andrew Wibson of the CEDP, Leroy Moore who set up Bang4Change surveys, Kim Shree-Maufas of the COSW for flyering, Kenneth Johnson and Markus Darkraven for videotaping, Michael Franti for his surprise guest appearance, KPFA live broadcast, Joyce from Answer and Precita Eyes Youth for making banners, Siri Margerin our fierce stage manager, Richard Talavera for bringing the Mexican Bus, Barry Eisenberg for gathering performers, and to all of you Bang4Changers and Freedom Fighters for bringing hope and power at our festival !

The night following Bang4Change, Idriss came to me in a dream.

I almost did not recognized him at first until he took off his long white coat... Idriss came this time as an old man, thick glasses, balding, a long gray frizzy ponytail flowing over his powerful shoulders. "Ma, check this out, busy...Just came for a quick second to congratulate you for Bang, Ma...". A big bear hug, and he was gone.... Funny how our slaughtered angels come back when we expect them the least, at all ages they carry in heaven through our dream world. Thank you my Idriss, who came back so many times during the night since your murder by the men in blue as a toodler, then a young blood, thank you for connecting now in our old age, as the OG we will never see walking this earth...See you soon baby.
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Tom Condit
Mon, Mar 6, 2006 9:41PM
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