Community members and government officials made efforts to restore order to Baltimore on Tuesday after the city erupted in violence just hours after the funeral for Freddie Gray, who died in police custody earlier this month.

 

His death is the latest incident in what seems to be an epidemic of caught on tape police violence against African American men nationwide. Each incident has sparked both peaceful and violent protests and cultivated the Black Lives Matter campaign.

 

Reports described Baltimore streets as similar to “a war zone,” replete with burned buildings, vehicles, smoke and ashes. To date 15 officers were hurt, six were hospitalized, 144 vehicles were set on fire, and almost 200 people were arrested. Residents came out Tuesday to show care and support for their city, cleaning up the destruction and debris left in the riot’s wake.  View Slideshow >

 

“I understand that everybody is upset, I understand that tension is brewing ... I’m here, I get it,” said Laquicha Harper, a 30 year-old woman from Baltimore.

 

“But there are better ways that we can handle our frustration. And they can’t hear us when we’re behaving this way.”

 

Harper was part of Tuesday’s clean-up crew. Government officials from President Barack Obama to Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlins- Blake denounced the violence, deeming it “senseless” and inexcusable.

 

“Too many people have spent generations building up this city for it to be destroyed by thugs who — in a very senseless way — are trying to tear down what so many have fought for,” Rawlings-Blake told reporters during a news conference.

 

“The nation’s mayors urge that any further protests be peaceful and non-violent, as is the right of all Americans under the Constitution,” said San Francisco Mayor Kevin Johnson, president of the National Council of Mayors, also sending out the organization’s condolences to the Gray family.

 

Police reports and eyewitness accounts surrounding Gray’s arrest and subsequent death have been in conflict since the April 12 incident. What’s for sure is that on the morning of April 12 Gray made eye contact with bicycle police who chased Gray when the 25-year-old proceeded to run.

 

Police reports claim that Gray was tackled and arrested for possession of a switchblade “without the use of force” but witnesses said they saw him “dragged”, “folded” and beaten by the officers.

 

Reportedly, a friend who was with Gray and also arrested said he ran because he had violent run-ins with at least one of the officers before. During transport he fell into a coma and was taken to a trauma center where it was determined that he suffered injuries to his spinal cord and larynx. Attempts to save his life through extensive surgery were futile and Gray died on April 19.

 

“The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the cause of Mr. Gray’s death and the CBC supports that investigation,” Representative G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus said in a statement.

 

“We all play a critical role in helping restore trust in law enforcement and our justice system.  The CBC will continue to work with federal, state and local governments to ensure this system is fair and impartial.  African Americans deserve to be treated equally before the law,” Butterfield said.

 

A city in ruinOn Tuesday the mayor implemented a week long curfewfrom 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily, effective for one week

 

Baltimore police said they had received “credible” death threats from area gang members including Black Guerilla Family, Bloods and Crips.

 

Not so, said gang members and protestors at a Monday night meeting.

 

“That was a false alarm cooked up to divide the city even further,” Gray family attorney Bill Murphy  told reporters.

 

“We want to tell the people of Baltimore city that the image they’re trying to portray of gangs in Baltimore, of the BGF, the Bloods, Crips, we did not make a truce to harm cops,” said a gang member.

 

“We did not come together against the cops. We’re not about to let ya’ll paint that picture of us.”

 

Despite efforts to maintain peace and restoration, many say the city of Baltimore has long been rife with conditions that made the recent violence inevitable.

 

“We can’t ignore the fact that the city is burning, but we need to be talking about why it's burning and not romanticize peace and not romanticize marching as the only way to function,” said CNN commentator Marc Hill.

 

“Freddie Gray is dead. That's why the city is burning, and let’s make that clear. It's not burning because of these protesters. The city is burning because the police killed Freddie Gray and that’s a distinction we have to make,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles where police brutality kicked off major riots in 1965 and in 1992, community activists, leaders, law enforcement and residents participated in a town hall on Tuesday, hoping to prevent an uprising from happening here in the future.

 

However many argued thatthe problems that plague the black community here and in other states are systemic. They would have to be uncovered and addressed before any productive action can take place.

 

“What is happening in Baltimore, in St. Louis and throughout the country is the spillover of all the years of dis-respect and alienation that African Americans have been enduring and feeling within our own community’s for years,” said Danny Bakewell, Sr. civil rights activist.

 

“When any people feel oppressed, disregarded and disrespected in their own homes or communities they feel they have no choice but rise up and let their dissatisfaction be heard,” he said.  “Our community does not need another rebellion; we have not recovered from what happened in 1992 yet, but I would hope that LAPD, the mayor, the City Council and others in leadership understand the systematic problems that have plagued our community and our people for too long and take serious action to help turn the tide on this problem.”

 

“We must continue to strive to make everyone who lives in our community feel pride of ownership in our community,” he said.

 

“We have to continue to invest in making our community an attractive place to live and work.  We have to continue working to keep doors of opportunity open so that our people can realize the hopes and dreams they have for themselves and their families.

 

“And we have to continue to build bridges of understanding with other communities, including law enforcement, because we are all in this together.”

 

(view slideshow) 

By Amen Oyiboke 

Staff Writer of Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper 

 

On a rainy Christmas Eve in 1988, South Los Angeles native Toni Bazley was on her way home from work when she noticed a mother and two children waiting at a bus stop.

 

“It was close to 10 o’clock and I couldn’t just drive by the family without offering a ride to them. It was Christmas Eve and no one deserved to wait in the rain,” said Bazley. She remembered asking the woman if she wanted a ride home and pulled into the closest gas station to let the small family enter her 1981 Toyota Corolla.

 

Bazley continued southbound on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and made a right turn on Vermont. That’s when her good deed took the wrong turn.

 

“I got into a hit-and-run accident with a drunk driver on the intersection of Vermont and Florence. The driver slammed into me so hard that my car hit a pole and folded,” said Bazley. The mother and children were unharmed, but Bazley suffered from head injuries and was rushed to Martin Luther King Jr./Drew hospital.

 

Bazley quoted her experience to be different than those who negatively spoke about MLK hospital during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, calling it “Killer King”.

 

“I know people had horrible mentalities about the hospital because of some things that occurred there. Honestly, it affected my thoughts too until I had my accident,” said Bazley.

 

But, Bazley maintains that her experience was a positive one.

 

“The doctor at MLK did a wonderful job stitching me up and calming me down,” Bazley said.

 

Eight days after the riot then-Governor Edmund Brown assembled an investigation group called the McCone Commission. The group held the responsibility of exploring the root causes of the uprising and made recommendations to Congress on what some of the remedies should be to help residents of South L.A.

 

The commission released the 1965 McCone Report, which stated that upgrading healthcare services in South L.A. would increase the chances of overall improvement of health conditions in residents of the area, who felt neglected in resources for medical attention. In response to that report, then 8th District Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn made it his mission to bring emergency healthcare to the area.

 

The hospital was founded as a response to the Watts Riots in honor of civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King Jr. It was a sign of hope and change for a city recuperating from violence and low quality medical services.  The hospital then opened in 1972 to the general public and was licensed for 461 beds.

 

“A lot of people believed the community of Watts didn’t need a hospital, but my father believed it,” said Rep. Janice Hahn (D-Los Angeles), daughter of the late Kenneth Hahn.

 

“Eventually, through a lot of effort my father was able to get put on the ballot to have the people of the county vote to issue money for the hospital. He always believed that everyone deserved proper healthcare services. The lack of hospital care was really one of the biggest holes in the community.”

 

The healthcare needs of South L.A., also known as Service Planning Area 6, not only included emergency and trauma services, but also inpatient services, primary care and specialty services that were in high demand but in short supply, according to L.A. County’s Department of Health Services.

 

“When my father was there it was a really good hospital. He always made sure they had all the equipment it needed to be a good hospital,” said Hahn.

 

However, reports had shown that problems in patient lapses started soon after the hospital opened. In 2003, the hospital faced crises like untimely patient deaths due to neglect. In February of 2005, the hospital lost its seal of approval from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. King/Drew hospital soon became the smallest of the county’s four general hospitals decreasing down to 357 beds by 2006.

 

“I started working at King hospital when the name ‘Killer King’ was given to us. That name preceded the opening of the hospital,” said Samuel Shacks, former vice chancellor of pediatrics at King/Drew. “That name was not an earned name it was a given name. We had a very developed staff and good doctors who knew how to tackle the difficult area we were in.” 

 

Shacks started his residency at King/Drew in 1977 and took on a faculty position in 1982 where he stayed at the hospital for 19 years.  “Many people in the area ignored King and went outside our corridor to visit other hospitals. People did not fight to speak up about the troubles we faced servicing the area. They always thought it was better for them to not be at King,” said Shacks.

 

Reports of a grossly inadequate facility and improper incidents exposed by the Los Angeles Times from 2004-2007 showed a lack in general upkeep in the King/Drew Hospital. “That is what people should expect when you are the least resourced county hospital. We also had to fight for resources in a way that others could get and a lot of equipment we received came used,” said Shacks.

 

After the articles were published the hospital closed its doors for good in 2007. For eight years nearly 1.2 million residents of the surrounding area have gone without an emergency care facility in their community. However, things will reportedly change this year.

 

After its closing, county officials chose to hand the hospital over to a non-profit chain, Martin Luther King Healthcare Corporation, to reevaluate and remodel its infrastructure. The new Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital (MLKCH) is scheduled to treat patients in late spring, according to Al Arimendez the Marketing and Communications Manager of MLKCH.

 

“We are a phase hospital, so we have to go through licensing and training before we can do anything. That’s why we are really careful about giving exact opening dates because it really isn’t our call. It depends on our licenser requirements,” said Arimendez.

 

Opening dates have been repeatedly set back and Arimendez stated that it’s due to the non-profit funding. “We are a 501c3 so our money is coming from other sources,” he said. The $284 million hospital is equipped with five levels of restructured rooms, brand new medical equipment and 16 departmental services. Hospital officials state that the new hospital will give baseline services that the area has lacked for the past eight years.

 

“The new hospital is designed to meet the needs of the area it serves. The hospital will have new equipment, specialists, new physicians 24/7 and we will work with people outside of the hospital to help patients transition in and out of the facility,” said Dr. Elaine Batchlor, President and Chief Executive Officer of MLK Community Hospital.

 

One of the benefits that the hospital will have is recruiting new physicians and specialists to add to the hospital and that will help the area,” said Batchlor.

 

But for some residents the new hospital just isn’t enough.

 

“A new facility is a good thing and I’m not against that. But, what happens to the people who need trauma care?” said community activist Larry Aubry.

 

“We cannot continue to be satisfied with what is mediocre in South L.A. The norm is detrimental to our health,” said Aubrey.

 

Trauma and stroke victims will have to travel to three and 10 miles away to St. Francis Medical Center or Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

 

Still, hospital officials hope that keeping the local residents aware of provided services will prevent victims needing trauma care from coming.

 

“Healthcare has changed a lot over the past 15 years. We are focusing on preventative wellness programs and services to help minimize rescue care,” said Batchelor. “This helps prevent their health deteriorating to the point where they need emergency care.”

 

The shaky past of King/Drew hospital continues to raise concern about what is to come for South L.A.’s new MLKCH healthcare services however, residents like Bazley hope the new center will bring the hope the community has been missing for eight years.

 

“I’m happy that the black and brown community has a place to go for care. People can complain all they want, but we have to recognize that we just received a brand new facility that will help us all,” said Bazley.

 

These pieces are part of a USC Annenberg directed collaboration investigating social change in South Los Angeles 50 years after the Watts Riots.

By Danny J. Bakewell Jr., Executive Editor and by Kenneth D. Miller,  Assistant Managing Editor 

 

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa broke his silence on his decision to run for the United States Senate in an exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Watts Times this week.

 

Villaraigosa served as the 41st mayor of Los Angeles from 2005 to 2013. He also served in the California State Assembly from 1994 to 2000, as the Democratic leader of the Assembly from 1996 to 1998, and also served as speaker of the California State Assembly from 1998 to 2000.

 

His career in public office spans more than 20 years and in 2005 he became the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since 1887.

 

Villaraigosa is a prominent political figure who was national co-chairman of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2008 and a member of President Barack Obama’s Transition Economic Advisory Board and Chairman of the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

 

But what has set him apart from other elected officials is his unique ability to govern for all citizens, regardless of color. Which is why his decision not to run for Senate comes as a surprise to many.

 

“It was a family decision,” he explained of his decision. “We had just bought a home and I have four children, two grandchildren and a great grand child and we needed a place where the family could come together.”

 

Villaraigosa stated that his children had resided with him during his two terms as mayor and back then he promised them a family home.

 

“I had to keep that promise to them,” he said.

 

“When you have been in public service as long as I have and a good portion of that time in Sacramento and then working day and night on behalf of the city you love (Los Angeles), I just felt like the kids deserved it.”

 

However, his secondary purpose for not pursuing the U.S. Senate to replace Barbara Boxer was to support his long time friend State Attorney General Kamala Harris.

 

“Kamala and I have been long time friends, supporting one another throughout the years and the prospect of running against a friend was not something I relished, and finally, I knew how important it was to have an African American woman in the United States Senate,” he said.

 

He said that being the mayor of Los Angeles has prepared him to offer the most as a chief executive.

 

“I deferred this time around, but I’d be honored to serve again, but that’s some time in the future.

 

Although being mayor of the second largest city in America can be a daunting task for anyone, the former mayor has fond memories of his time in office.

 

“I loved it. I enjoyed every minute of my eight years. I was born here (in Los Angeles), my mom was born here, my grandmother came here over 100 years ago, and so this is my town.”

 

The former mayor indicated that his tenure as mayor was more burdensome on his family, which is why he decided to make the commitment this time around to put them before any of his political ambitions.

 

Villaraigosa’s experience as chief executive of Los Angeles will certainly give him advantage of any potential candidate as the next governor of the state of California.

 

“The theme back then was straight from the heart of L.A. I remember saying in 2005 that we were a great state, but a city that was much more prosperous in some parts, but a truly great city needed to be prosperous throughout and needed to grow together.

 

“When you look at my partnerships and where they’re at and when you look at Summer Night Lights (a successful gang intervention program), when you look at Watts and South Central L.A., I spent more time in those small communities (eight percent of the population) than I did in almost any other communities.  I did because in South L.A., Pacoima, East L.A. these people worked hard every day and they deserved a leader that acknowledges them and who made sure that we were not leaving them behind.”

 

Among his many highlights in public office, include the moment he was asked by the late Hollywood NAACP president Willis Edwards to speak at Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks’ funeral and when he met the late South African President Nelson Mandela.

 

Since his tenure for mayor ended in 2013, Villaraigosa has kept busy, teaching at prestigious universities such as Harvard and the University of Southern California (USC) in addition be being a much sought after public speaker and serving on various board of major corporations.

 

However, for Villaraigosa as wonderful as it is to reflect on the pass with so much work to do there is a prominent role for him to serve in the near future.