Feb 4, 2007

Residents march, rally for peace

Turnout high as E. Palo Alto delivers message

By Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer

Hundreds marched through East Palo Alto Saturday morning chanting for peace in a demonstration against what many residents say is a violent minority that gives the small town a bad name.

Organizers of the Peace and Unity March and Rally were hoping to send a strong message that violence will not be tolerated in the city. The event was prompted by six slayings and dozens of shootings since the holidays.

The message of peace was delivered with bullhorns, scores of homemade signs, a marching band and through the sheer presence of the nearly 1,000-strong crowd - a potpourri of whites, Hispanics, African-Americans and Pacific-Islanders. In a city where roughly 45 percent of the population is under 30 years old, teenagers and 20-somethings dominated the scene.

Ramsey Shuman, owner of the PAL market, watched as the crowd flowed down University Avenue and turned right onto Bay Road. He was one of the first people to donate $150 to the rally.

"I know some of the victims, I know their families, they're good customers," Shuman said. "It's sad. It's tragic. We're just trying to do our part."

The crowd finally poured into Jack Farrell Park around 11:30 a.m. after a 90-minute trek from the Gateway 101 Retail Center. Bands played, politicians spoke and residents broke into poetry jams, all while a line of barbecues smoked with lunch.

"The unity is beautiful," said Shaneika Thomas, 27, as her 12-year-old daughter frolicked with dozens of kids. "We should do it every couple of months."

"Having grown up in this community, worked in this community, this is what you envision," Cettecia Rayson said. "Those instances of violence - that's a minority."

A group of brawny men from the Soul Brothers, a motorcycle club, hung on the edge of the crowd, providing security. James Brown blasted from one of the Soul Brothers' colorful Harley Davidsons.

"It's great," said Mike Neal, who, like his cohorts, wore a leather vest with a picture of a black arm crossing a white arm on the back. "We need more of it."

The rally cost roughly $15,000 and got off the ground thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The police department pitched in $1,500, and the Abundant Life Christian fellowship donated $1,000.

One East Palo Alto, a local nonprofit, managed finances for the rally. For Youth, By Youth, the Ravenswood City School District, the Pacific-Islander Community Center and East Palo Alto Today also were involved.

"The turnout is excellent," said organizer Khabral Muhammad, 27. "It's not a black thing, a Tongan thing, a Mexican (thing) - it's an East Palo Alto thing."

Palo Alto Mayor Yoriko Kishimoto and Menlo Park Mayor Kelly Fergusson made the trip, along with Palo Alto Council Member LaDoris Cordell and San Mateo County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson. East Palo Alto city leaders mingled with residents.

"This is great day," East Palo Alto Mayor David Woods told the crowd. "With this many people against crime, crime doesn't stand a chance."


E-mail Banks Albach at balbach@dailynewsgroup.com.