Shalom over the City

by Sheila D'Amico

A call to "speak Shalom over the city" opened the rally at Oakland's City Hall following the March for Peace on July 13. Organized by African American pastors, the march and rally brought about 4,000 participants to the plaza determined to end the gun violence that led to the homicides of 55 persons in 2002, many of them young African American men. In addition to prayers, the pastors promised to go to work.

Many city officials and others who spoke echoed the sentiments of U.S. Representative Barbara Lee, who called for job training. "They must have alternatives to the street; they must have hope."

Other speakers brought proclamations naming July 13 as a Day of Peace in Oakland from the Governor, the County Board of Supervisors, and the City. Mayor Jerry Brown announced that the city had a packet with information on Youth Programs that residents could obtain by calling 444-City. Councilmember Nancy Nadel reminded us that we have a sad "history of solving our problems by killing each other," and urged that, "We need to set a new example."

Chief Word presented a suggestion for the police. "As a department, we need to form an alliance ... with those men and women who once led a life of violence but have reformed." He suggested that those persons might be willing to share their experiences with young persons who look as though they might be following the same path.

Two young men I spoke with expressed almost the same idea as the Police Chief and were willing to share other ideas for reaching the young men on the streets. "Don't be afraid to go up and talk to them. Say hello. Bring them a bottle of cold water instead of pointing a finger and yelling that you're gonna call the cops," Cesare Kennedy said. "It's like planting a seed. Maybe they won't hear you the first time, or they might act like they don't."

James Smith believes you've got to give them a goal. "Say, 'In ten years I want to see you doing something with your life.' I have a goal, to be a big-time star and to live in a nice house by the time I'm 40. They feel like they can make more money from selling drugs on the streets, and they can, but the streets aren't nothing."

Cesare, who said he turned his life around when he met his wife, added, "They want to get there the quickest way they can. They watch ads for Career College, Art Institute, but they can't get financial aid. Or if they hear about job programs, well, if you are told you are negative all your life, you don't think those programs are for you."

So, what happens now? We all have ideas, but can we take action? Will more people be killed on Oakland's street corners, in their homes, in their businesses, and be forgotten as quickly as the descansos that mark their sudden death appear and disappear? Or will the show of political power that occurred on July 13 energize us each of us to do something about this grim death toll in our own city?