Friday, June 16, 2006
Pacifica Commentary For June 14, 2006
The South Central Farmers
June 13th, 2006, a day of infamy in the history of Los Angeles. Sheriffs and LAPD arrive in the middle of the night to attack peaceful people who have created a paradise in what was a trash heap. It was a quasi-military action and it was entirely unnecessary. These people were given ten minutes to get out after years of hard work and development of the area.
Exactly what threat to public safety were these peaceful urban farmers? Why were their trees cut down? Why were their plots bulldozed?
This beautiful oasis was developed 14 years ago in the wake of the uprising of 1992.Land was offered to the South Central Community by the City of Los Angeles.
The land was broken, scarred, paved over. There were abandoned refrigerators, shards of glass, old tires, piles of rags and discarded furniture. The South Central Farmers took away the trash, cut down the weeds and got rid of the rats. They turned the soil and found that it could live again and it provided food for 350 families.
What a putrid example of class justice. The poor are those selected to receive the death penalty. The poor are those selected to die in unnecessary wars. The poor are those who fill our prisons with two million inmates as part of the military, industrial, prison, gun and warfare state complex. And now the poor are evicted in an act of treachery by the City of Los Angeles.
There is only one solution and that includes restitution. First that this land be immediately set aside as the property of The South Central Farmers.
Second we must begin plans for many similar farms in the City of Los Angeles. We want these farms so that talented people will continue to grow crops that we will never see in a super-market. Precious seeds were brought in to produce crops that heal and nourish. Los Angeles will remain with a broken heart until restitution is achieved. The website for the Sounth Central Farm is: southcentralfarmers.org.
Call Mayor Villaraigosa and demand that the pledge made by the City of Los Angeles be respected. Call City Council Member Jan Perry and demand that she represent the people of her district. Call Mr. Ralph Horowitz the developer who initiated the eviction and insist that he negotiate with The Trust for Public Land and the Annenberg Foundation to make the South Central Farm a permanent symbol of the greatness of those who created it.
Mr. Ralph Horowitz' phone is : 310/440-7878.
June 13th, 2006, a day of infamy in the history of Los Angeles. Sheriffs and LAPD arrive in the middle of the night to attack peaceful people who have created a paradise in what was a trash heap. It was a quasi-military action and it was entirely unnecessary. These people were given ten minutes to get out after years of hard work and development of the area.
Exactly what threat to public safety were these peaceful urban farmers? Why were their trees cut down? Why were their plots bulldozed?
This beautiful oasis was developed 14 years ago in the wake of the uprising of 1992.Land was offered to the South Central Community by the City of Los Angeles.
The land was broken, scarred, paved over. There were abandoned refrigerators, shards of glass, old tires, piles of rags and discarded furniture. The South Central Farmers took away the trash, cut down the weeds and got rid of the rats. They turned the soil and found that it could live again and it provided food for 350 families.
What a putrid example of class justice. The poor are those selected to receive the death penalty. The poor are those selected to die in unnecessary wars. The poor are those who fill our prisons with two million inmates as part of the military, industrial, prison, gun and warfare state complex. And now the poor are evicted in an act of treachery by the City of Los Angeles.
There is only one solution and that includes restitution. First that this land be immediately set aside as the property of The South Central Farmers.
Second we must begin plans for many similar farms in the City of Los Angeles. We want these farms so that talented people will continue to grow crops that we will never see in a super-market. Precious seeds were brought in to produce crops that heal and nourish. Los Angeles will remain with a broken heart until restitution is achieved. The website for the Sounth Central Farm is: southcentralfarmers.org.
Call Mayor Villaraigosa and demand that the pledge made by the City of Los Angeles be respected. Call City Council Member Jan Perry and demand that she represent the people of her district. Call Mr. Ralph Horowitz the developer who initiated the eviction and insist that he negotiate with The Trust for Public Land and the Annenberg Foundation to make the South Central Farm a permanent symbol of the greatness of those who created it.
Mr. Ralph Horowitz' phone is : 310/440-7878.
