Not Alone : Jesse Jackson Tells Project Tenants to ‘Stand Together’
In an emotional Thursday afternoon rally, the Rev. Jesse Jackson appeared before cheering tenants of the Imperial Courts housing project urging them to “stand together” in their campaign for police reforms.
“We are not going to let the police kill us and we are not going to kill each other,” Jackson told hundreds of residents gathered at an outdoor rally aimed at empowering a fledgling tenant organization and boosting its drive for more sensitive law enforcement.
“I am here to tell you,” Jackson said, his voice building, “you are not alone.”
Jackson and several tenant representatives urged residents to register to vote.
“You must use that power to elect those who care and retire those who don’t,” Jackson said, after leading the crowd in cheers of “I am somebody!”
A girls drill team marched through the complex followed by adults carrying signs reading “People, it’s time to make a change,” and “We need protection, not somebody to kill us with a badge.”
The appearance by Jackson, initiated by U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, who represents the district including the South-Central Los Angeles housing project, came after what has been more than a month of tenant unrest over the Nov. 29 police shooting of Henry Peco. Many residents have complained that local officials have long neglected their neighborhood.
The 28-year-old Peco was killed after he and two other men opened fire on officers with an assault rifle during a nighttime power outage at the complex, police said.
Peco’s relatives and a vocal group of tenants have countered that Peco was unarmed and was shot without provocation while walking across a courtyard. But authorities say Peco’s two alleged accomplices have implicated him in taped interviews with police.
On Dec. 30, tensions escalated further after 44 residents of the project were arrested in a pre-dawn police sweep intended to inhibit random gunfire on New Year’s Eve.
Led by a young Watts minister and a longtime Imperial Courts tenant, residents formed the Henry Peco Justice Committee. The group has found an influential ally in Waters, who told them Thursday that “I am so proud of you. . . . This is a new day in Imperial Courts, there will be justice for this community.”
Tenants lined the sidewalk of the sprawling project to watch their “High Stompers” girls drill team march to the basketball court. The team stopped in front of the apartment of Loretha Peco, the slain man’s mother, for a moment of silence.
“This is beautiful,” Loretha Peco said in a soft voice. “It feels good. I need the support.”
Several tenants commented that they had never seen such a large turnout for a project activity.
“This stands for something good and right. It’s about time we all got together,” said Shawonia Hudson.
As she marched to the rally, Queen Ramsey, 40, an 18-year tenant of the project, said the Peco shooting has mobilized tenants to speak out against police and others who judge the complex mainly on the basis of crime and gang troubles.
“We want people to know who we are. There are children here just like children everywhere,” Ramsey said. “I’m sure there are problems in Beverly Hills, all over the city. We are not different.”
She said that more youth activities and day care are needed at the complex. Ramsey and others said they hope the Police Department will enact an around-the-clock community-based policing program at the project so that they can trust officers again.
“I’m tired of seeing police throw kids up against the wall,” Ramsey said.
Perry Crouch, a tenant and co-chairman of the justice committee, said that activism can be transformed into results if “power in numbers” is taken to the voting booth.
Voter turnout in the project has been low. In last April’s election, only 18 of nearly 700 registered voters cast ballots--about 2.6%. Overall city turnout was 18%.
Later in the evening, about 200 tenants, including dozens of children, gathered outside the gymnasium to greet Jackson with loud cheers of “Jesse! Jesse!” as he returned to the complex to meet with residents and talk to them more about their concerns.
“It feels great to see the enthusiasm these children are expressing,” Jackson said. In a show of solidarity with Imperial Courts residents, Jackson planned to spend the night in the gym with about 50 children and their parents, rolling out sleeping bags and sleeping on the gym floor.
