Afrika Town is a community garden in what was long a vacant lot in Oakland at the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and Brush Street, next to the Qilombo social center. On March 26, the landowner came with a bulldozer to raze the garden, backed up by Oakland police officers. Activists quickly gathered and were able to convince the landowner to return a week later.

On April 3, when the landowner had promised to return to clear the lot, dozens of community members turned out to defend the garden. The owner backed down, apparently with added pressure from City Hall, giving Afrika Town the opportunity to buy the land for a permanent community garden on the edge of West Oakland.

Afrika Town is now in dire need of funds to survive. It is unknown if the landowner will agree to a reasonable selling price. In the meantime, volunteers vow to remain vigilant guarding the garden from those who might come to destroy it and welcome local community members to participate in tending to the land.

Afrika Town Victory — Community Garden Wins Reprieve from Bulldozer and OPD | Hundreds Defend 'Afrika Town' Community Garden in Oakland | Stand in Solidarity and Stop AfrikaTown from Being Destroyed | Call to Defend the Afrika Town Community Garden in Oakland | An Interview with Linda Grant on Cultivating Resistance in Afrikatown | Defend Afrika Town | Save Afrika Town fundraising page